TWO friends helped save a neighbour's life - after knocking on his door to borrow a tea bag.

Brave Michelle Lewis, aged 28 and Rachael Naylor, 21, dragged Kevin Moss unconscious from his third-floor flat in Park Road, Heaton, last night after fat in a chip pan left on a stove went up in flames.

The quick-thinking pair went into action after seeing smoke pouring out from under Kevin's front door.

All three were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the fire at 7pm last night but were released earlier today.

Michelle, of Thomas Drive, Heaton, who had just returned with Rachael from a trip to Bolton, said: "I thought that he was going to die.

"When I went in it was full of smoke. I heard shouting and ran inside before pulling him out with my hand over my face.

"I could not believe the colour of him when we got him out -- he was covered with smoke."

And Rachael, Kevin's next door neighbour, said: "We had been in town and came back here to have a cup of tea.

"We went up to Kevin's to ask for a few tea bags and that is when we saw smoke."

Mr Moss, aged 37, who was released early today, added: "Thanks to Rachael and Michelle I am all right. They helped save my life."

Station Officer Wayne Shields from Bolton Central station said the fire was put out before they arrived. Crews wearing breathing equipment searched the flat.

Mr Shields said: "He was very lucky. Kevin was in quite a serious condition as he had taken in quite a lot of smoke. The girls rang us and we were there within a couple of minutes. They did very well indeed."

Station Officer Shields warned people never to leave pans unattended on a stove.