NEIGHBOURS rescued three people trapped in a burning house.

Fire crews were called to Frank Street, Halliwell, where a blaze had started after a pan of food was left unattended.

Neighbour Tony Tortington used a ladder to climb up to a bedroom window and rescue June Harlow, aged 55, and her grandaughter Jessica Harlow, aged three.

Another two neighbours, Chris McGuiness and John Wood, ran inside the house and put a damp cloth over the pan before dragging outside Mrs Harlow's son Damian, aged 27, who was asleep on the couch in the living room.

Two of the rescuers and the three victims were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and shock following the fire, which started at around 2.45am on Saturday.

The kitchen was destroyed in the blaze and the rest of the house suffered fire and smoke damage.

Sub officer Mike Sutherland said the house was fitted with smoke alarms, but they did not contain batteries. He warned other people to check their alarms were working.

In a separate fire, a couple had to be rescued from the bedroom of their semi-detached home after they became trapped.

Norman and Cheryl Vickers were rescued by firefighters using a ladder to get into their Breightmet house earlier today. A pet dog was also rescued.

The blaze started in the kitchen of the couple's home in Maryland Avenue shortly before 3am when a chip pan set alight. The couple were treated for smoke inhalation at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

And a 30-year-old man was rescued by firefighters from his flat in Bradford Street, The Haulgh, shortly after 8pm on Friday..

He was treated at the scene after declining hospital treatment. The fire was also started by a pan of food which had been left unattended.