A NEIGHBOUR raised the alarm when a fire broke out in a flat.

Firefighters were called to Priestfields, Leigh at 10pm on Sunday after a man fell asleep when cooking eggs.

Three fire engines from Leigh, Hindley and Atherton were mobilised.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “A pan of food was on fire, a neighbour could actually smell smoke.

“When crews arrived they could see the flat was full of smoke and somebody appeared at the window, he was a gentleman aged 58. He had fallen asleep while cooking some eggs, he fell asleep watching TV.

“The neighbour alerted him by shouting when she found out where the fire actually was.

“He was very fortunate.”

Crews put out the fire quickly and ventilated the property.

The man was checked over by paramedics and was said to be okay.

Crews were on the scene for just over an hour.