AN 81-year-old woman is recovering from burns to her arms and face after a chip pan fire at her Tyldesley home.

Nellie Lambert had tried to put out the blaze herself and took the flaming pan outside. She then telephoned for her nephew. When he arrived at her bungalow he called the fire brigade and then threw water on the flames.

A fire crew from Atherton went to tackle the fire and treated the woman with burns dressings while paramedics arrived. Today a spokesman said: The lady did what she thought was right but we advise people if they had a chip pan fire to leave it where it is, get out and call us. On no account use water to try and put a chip pan fire."

The pensioner was treated at the Royal Bolton Hospital then discharged.