A HALLIWELL pensioner who became the unlikely star of a billboard campaign after narrowly escaping a kitchen blaze has been enjoying her new-found fame.

Halliwell is Bolton’s house fire hot spot, with 20 blazes reported in the ward between last April and this March – 15 of which were caused by cooking.

Margaret Shearer fell asleep after putting food on the stove in her home in Shelley Walk on January 20, and had to be dragged out by firefighters and treated for smoke inhalation.

A shocking image of the 66-year-old in a burned-out kitchen has been featured on hard-hitting billboards and a poster campaign in Halliwell for two weeks since Monday.

Mrs Shearer is currently on billboards in Blackburn Road at the junction of Prospect Street and on St George’s Road and on a bus shelter in Halliwell Road.

Mrs Shearer said: “I have really enjoyed helping the fire service with its campaign and hope I can help other people stay safe at home.

“After the article appeared in The Bolton News my friends at the Salvation Army gave me a big round of applause, and my son said he got a surprise seeing a big picture of me on a billboard.

“Also, my niece in Scotland rang to say she had seen me on the internet.”

A spokesman for GMFRS said: “Cooking fires continue to be an issue in the Halliwell area of Bolton and we have launched a safety campaign in a bid to reduce incidents of this kind.

“GMFRS staff have been working to raise awareness in the area about staying safe at home while cooking.”

To get home safety advice: call 0800 555 815 or go to manchesterfire.gov.uk and for more advice on staying safe in the kitchen go to manchesterfire.gov.uk/fire_safety_advice/home_fire_safety/safety_in_kitchen