FIRE chiefs have issued a plea to homeowners to fit fire alarms after a woman was saved from a blaze by neighbours who detected smoke.

The woman fell asleep after a pan of food was left on the hob at her terraced home in Oxford Street, Leigh, at around 8pm on Saturday.

It was only when a passing neighbour knocked on the door and them smelled smoke that the alarm was raised.

The neighbour's boyfriend broke into the house and put out flames before the fire service were called to deal with the damage caused by the fire.

The small fire caused slight damage to the kitchen.

The woman was given oxygen at the scene and later taken to hospital.

Station Officer Larry Green said: "It was lucky that the pan of food was not hot oil or it could have caused a lot more damage.

"The message we really want to get across is how important it is to have smoke alarms fitted in the home to prevent accidents like this which potentially could have been very serious."