THE owner of a Chinese chip shop was led to safety by firefighters last night after equipment in the shop caught fire.

Firefighters were called to the Welcome Chip Shop in Walkden Road, Walkden, at about 6pm after a deep fat fryer overheated, starting a fire.

The owner's wife and two children, who live above the shop, as well as two members of staff had evacuated the building, but the owner had to be led to safety by Farnworth crews.

He suffered the effects of breathing in smoke but declined hospital treatment. There were no customers inside at the time.

The deep fat fryer was destroyed and the shop was badly damaged by smoke.