THE tragic death of a Chorley father-of-two has led fire chiefs to beg people to throw out their potentially lethal chip pans.

The stark warning follows the blaze in Merton Grove, Chorley, in which 25-year-old Christopher Shawcross died.

The fire broke out at around 12.50am on Sunday, August 26, after Mr Shawcross, who was alone in the house after returning from a night out, left a chip pan simmering away on the cooker and fell asleep.

Two neighbours rushed to the house after spotting flames. But despite a brave rescue bid, they were beaten back by the sheer ferocity of the fire.

Pictured here is the rear of the house after the fire.

Mr Shawcross lived in the house with his parents, Chris and Rita, his sister Julie, and his fiancee Emma Bartlett and their seven-month-old daughter Ellisha.

The family are still coming to terms with their grief.

John Taylor, press officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This is a desperately sad incident. We are upset by it and our respect and concerns go out to the family."

But he said that fires like this happen so often, they have been the subject of national TV and newspaper advertising. He said: "This is yet another tragedy involving chip pans. Someone has come in late at night, felt a bit peckish while alone in the house, put the chip pan on and fell asleep."

He warned that fires escalate so quickly with chip pans, they can rapidly turn into an intense fire, invariably causing injury, if not death.

He said this often happens because young men come in after a night out feeling hungry.

Because of their age they may be less inclined to pick up on fire safety messages, thinking it will not happen to them.

Mr Shawcross' father, Chris, was too upset to talk about the tragedy.

But a neighbour, who wished not to be named, said: "It's such a tragedy. I heard running outside the house and when I looked out I saw the whole back of the house completely alight. I just couldn't believe it."

Mr Taylor continued: "We cannot suggest strongly enough that people do away with chip pans -- use a deep fat fryer or have oven chips.

"Best of all, have a takeaway -- surely this is the most appropriate after a night out.

"This happens to perfectly ordinary people who are not inherently reckless and do think about safety, but sometimes just get caught out."