A NEIGHBOUR rescued a man from his flat with a ladder after his kitchen caught fire yesterday.

Army Green Goddess crews arrived at the man's home in Chulsey Gate Lane, Chew Moor, just before midnight.

But he had already climbed down the ladder to safety.

The soldiers put out the blaze, which is thought to have started when a chip pan caught fire.

Another Green Goddess crew was called to a fire at the Stephenson Court residential home in Kearsley at 1am.

When they arrived all of the elderly residents were safely outside.

The Army personnel received 218 calls across Greater Manchester during the course of the latest firefighters' 48-hour strike which ended at 9am.