FIREFIGHTERS were called to a flat after a tea towel was left on a hob.

Crews were called to the incident at a flat in Julia Mews, Horwich, at about 10.50am.

They arrived to discover that smoke had been caused by a tea towel left on a cooking hob, which was switched on.

The occupants were not home at the time of the fire.

Crews from Bolton North and Bolton Central attended the ground floor flat.

Karsten Boyle, watch manager at Bolton Central Fire Station, said: "We gained entry and found there was smoke in the flat and the tea towel was smouldering on the hob, which was switched on. They perhaps did not realise that.

"The smoke alarm went off and alerted the neighbours who called us. It could have been worse if it was not for the alarm which was fitted by us free of charge.

"That stopped it escalating any further than what it was.

"If you have not got an alarm then we can come and fit one free of charge."