FIREFIGHTERS battled through flames to rescue a man from his blazing home.

The alarm was raised by Kevin Gallagher, who was staying at his partner's house next door in Centenary Court, off Rishton Lane, Great Lever.

He woke up and smelt the smoke at 1am yesterday morning.

After contacting firefighters, Mr Gallagher battered down the door of the blazing house in a brave bid to rescue the man inside, only to be beaten back by thick smoke and flames at the top of the stairs.

Crews from Bolton Central and Farnworth fire stations found the man, believed to be in his late fifties, still conscious but lying on the floor of his bathroom.

Firefighters Gary Cartwright and Martin Finch carried him through the flames to safety.

The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, but his injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

The blaze, which blew out first floor windows and wrecked the bedroom and bathroom, was put out within minutes by 15 firefighters.

It is thought the man had fallen asleep on his bed while smoking, but a formal investigation is under way. A mains-operated smoke alarm had failed to go off because the man's electricity meter had run down.

Crew Manager, Dave Holden, of Bolton Central Fire Station, said: "It was lucky Mr Gallagher woke up and raised the alarm, minutes and seconds save lives.

"When we got there we saw plumes of smoke coming from the window, you could see the flames, they were quite intense.

"The man had managed to get out into his bathroom and the two firefighters who rescued him had to fight their way through the flames.

"They saved his life and although that's what we are trained and paid to do, it's not something you have to deal with everyday and it's different when you face it for real."

Mr Holden advised householders with mains operated fire alarms to get a battery back-up fitted.

Mr Gallagher, aged 46, said: "I shouted through the letter box and all I could hear was help me, help me' so I kicked the door in but couldn't get upstairs because of the smoke and flames.

"I didn't really think about it, I just wanted to get him out. The firefighters did a fantastic job."