SOLDIERS prevented a bungalow being destroyed by a garage fire in Radcliffe.

A Green Goddess crew extinguished the fire in the garage which was threatening to spread to a bungalow in Grindsbrook Close yesterday afternoon.

A man was taken to hospital after the blaze, although his condition was not believed to be serious.

Major Ben Hollister, of the King's Regiment, which is based at Bury and Clifton to provide cover, said: "When we got the call we deployed one Green Goddess and one Royal Navy rescue team.

"The occupants of the house were already outside when we arrived. The Navy team went inside to clear the house. There was no one inside it, so we just tackled the blaze."

It is believed the fire started in the garage area at the back of the bungalow and the soldiers managed to confine it to that area. The fire was put out in about 20 minutes. Major Hollister said: "If the fire had been left it probably would have consumed the bungalow." He said a man had been taken to hospital. He did not think his condition was serious.

because he had been able to walk around.

A group of bystanders had gathered to watch the soldiers put out the fire using hoses from the Green Goddess.

One woman said: "I think you are doing a marvellous job - you are better than the fire service and you are doing this with no extra pay."