A DISABLED woman has died after fire swept through her home as she slept.

Alison Cross, aged 53, was in bed when a fire started downstairs at 9.30am on Friday, in Springside Road, Bury.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found her in the bedroom of her semi-detached home. She was was pronounced dead on arrival at 10.15am at Fairfield General Hospital.

Police are investigating the fire but a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said that the blaze was not believed to be suspicious.

The alarm was raised when Jennifer Lee, Mrs Cross's carer, arrived at the house. She saw flames and attempted to rescue Mrs Cross but was forced back by smoke. She told a passer-by to ring the emergency services.

Mrs Lee was later treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital with respiratory difficulties. Her condition was not said to be serious.

Firefighter Mark Murphy praised Mrs Lee's actions. He said: "She was a very courageous and brave woman who tried to enter the house and rescue Mrs Cross."

The fire started downstairs in a living room. It is understood that an electrical short-circuit on a heater, or a lap-tap computer, sparked the blaze.

Leading firefighter John Newby said: "Mrs Lee fought her way through thick smoke to try and reach Mrs Cross, but she was unable to wake her.

"She was overcome by smoke and was forced to escape."

And firefighters say that Mrs Cross' life could have been saved if a smoke detector had been installed inside the house.

Mr Murphy said: "This could have given Mrs Cross the chance of waking up or being alerted to the fire, when it was still in its early stages."