A CIGARETTE dropped by a neighbour set fire to the front of a shop in Astley Bridge.

Firefighters believe the blaze in Blackburn Road started when a cigarette thrown from the window of the flat above landed on the shop's wooden sign.

Crews were called to the incident at about 10pm last night, and managed to put out the flames inside the sign before the fire took hold.

There was no damage to the shop itself, and only minor damage to the sign.

Ian Ainsworth, watch manager at Bolton Central fire station, said it was lucky another nearby shop owner had spotted the smoke.

He added: “It was something that could have amounted to more, but luckily it was spotted in time.

“In the end, only a piece of timber about six inches square had to be cut away from the sign.

“We have spoken to the residents of the flat above the shop about disposing of cigarettes safely.”