A MAN was arrested on suspicion of arson after being rescued from a fifth storey flat fire.

The man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s, was found breathing and conscious after a dramatic operation by specialist officers.

Breathing apparatus teams from Crompton Way fire station had to force their way into the ground floor of The Croft flats, in Haydock Street, Bolton, having received a call at 2.15am on Saturday.

They pulled the security door from its hinges before rushing up to the fifth floor where the fire was.

The fire, in the hallway of the man's flat, was extinguished by using a hose which was pulled up from the ground in through the communal window on the fourth floor.

Fire officers dropped rope down to the ground where colleagues attached the hose and it was then hoisted up the side of the building.

Meanwhile, another fire team from Farnworth fire station put up a 13.5m ladder around the other side of the building as a precaution, offering an alternative route out of the building if there were any complications.

But it was not required and the man was led down the internal staircase of the building to safety.

Police also attended and the man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance having suffered smoke inhalation.

Watch manager Neil Mercer said he could not comment on details of the incident because of an ongoing investigation into what caused the fire.

But he added: “It was arduous for everybody involved, with it being on the fourth floor, and there was a lot of equipment to get up there.”

Eyewitness Adam Connor, aged 26, who lives in Haydock Street opposite the flats said: “I saw three fire engines and an ambulance, then a little while later another fire engine came and shortly afterwards a police car came.

“I could see smoke coming from the top of the flats and firemen on each floor, however it looks like it was just the top flat on fire.

“Shortly after that another police car came.”