A FAMILY of three had to be evacuated after a fire gutted a shed in a garden next door and almost spread to the roof of their home.

Nigel Stirrup, 21, his pregnant girlfriend Rachel Stollinger, 20, and two and a half year old daughter Nikita fled from their home on Greenwood Avenue, Walkden, while firefighters battled to put out the flames.

Fire was spreading towards their semi-detached home and had ignited three window frames.

Mr Stirrup said: "I was very concerned about my family's safety, there's been a lot of trouble since the property next door became empty a month ago."

The heat was so bad it blew the kitchen window through. Crews contained the blaze, however, using two hose reels and remained at the scene for 90 minutes following a call at 9.10pm.

The shed and its contents were destroyed.