A YOUNG couple were trapped upstairs in their burning flat this morning after a suspected arson attack.

Firefighters rescued the pair using a ladder from the flat in Railway Road, Leigh, at 3.20am.

The fire started in the first floor of the flat, and it is thought it was started deliberately.

Police scenes of crime officers have joined investigators from the fire service at the flat to try to establish the cause.

There have been no arrests as yet but the police are treating the fire as suspicious.

The couple were left shaken but physically unharmed.

They were hanging out of the bedroom window when fire crews arrived in the early hours.

According to witnesses, Railway Road was closed off while firefighters tackled the blaze and there will still fire crews on the street at 7.30am. 

Residents of Railway Road say they have heard banging on the door of the flat previously and believe this may be linked to the fire.

Elaine Sutton, aged 51, who lives a few yards from the scene of the fire, said: "I woke up at about 4.30am - I didn't see the fire but I saw the police vehicles and there was a big van blcoking this road.

"There was a police tape at the back of the building and the fire crews and Criminal Investigation Units were still outside at 7.30am.

"It's quite frightening for something like this to happen opposite your own house. I'm very shocked that someone could do this - it could have been murder.

"I have been woken up previously by people banging on that door in the early hours of the morning."

Another Railway Road resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I was at the hospital with my daughter but my wife was home and she heard a bang at about 1.35am. 

"At about 3.55am, she texted me to say she heard sirens and that she saw the fire blow the window out."

Station manager Geoff Thornley, the fire service's incident commander at the scene, said: “The building includes two flats on the first floor and one flat on the second floor.

"The fire was in one of the first floor flats and we suspect it was started deliberately.

“When we arrived there were two people trapped upstairs – they were a young couple and they were hanging out of the bedroom window.

"Crews put a nine metre ladder to the window and brought them down to safety.

"They were shaken up but were okay.

"Fire service trauma technicians gave them oxygen at the scene and they were taken to hospital for a precautionary check up.”

Six firefighters put out the fire and used a fan to clear the building of smoke.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "No one has been arrested but we are treating the fire as suspicious."