SEVEN people, including three children, were forced to evacuate a house after a fire was started by an item of clothing left over a lamp. 

The fire service was called to Edstone close, off Wigan Road, at around 1am today. 

An item of clothing had been left over an electric lamp in child's bedroom and had caught fire. 

The smoke alarms in the property went off and four adults and three children evacuated the building. 

A six-year-old and a nine-year-old child were checked over for smoke inhalation as a precaution at the scene. 

No-one else received any medical treatment. 

Tony McKenna, watch manager at Bolton Central fire station, said it was small fire but it created quite a bit of smoke. 

Firefighters gave advice to the people at the scene and are set to return today to offer further guidance. 

He said: "They all did the correct thing and evacuated and waited for us."

Two crews from Bolton Central attended along with one from Horwich and were on the scene for around 30 minutes. 

GMFRS carries our free safety check visits that include free smoke alarms if they need fitting.

To book one call 0800 555 815.