PHONE threats were made to Bolton's Moat House Hotel before the early morning fire in which an elderly couple died, the BEN can reveal today.

Fire investigators and senior detectives believe a mattress which was set alight in a third floor corridor, could have sparked the fire which swept through the building.

An elderly man and woman, from the Blackpool area, were discovered in the corridor by firefighters who were searching the smoke-filled seven-storey hotel after the alarm was raised just after 12.30am.

For more exclusive reports and pictures from this tragedy visit our Moat House Tragedy link on the main page