BOLTON'S Moat House Hotel blaze, in which two pensioners died, could be featured on television's top Crime-busting programme.

Detectives who are probing the fire which claimed the lives of retired shipbuilder William Robertson, 75, and his 81-year-old wife Margaret, confirmed today that approaches have been made to BBC Crimewatch.

Det Chief Insp Paul Buchanan, of Bolton Central CID, said: "We have already been in discussion with them briefly but it is far from being screened. We have made the first contact."

Police chiefs are also considering asking for the blaze to be featured on a Granada crime programme.

It comes as forensic experts continue to probe the cause of the fire, the seat of which has been pinpointed to three portable beds which had been stacked in a hotel corridor.

Hotel staff and 128 guests were evacuated from the four star hotel as smoke billowed through the corridor and the flames took hold in the blaze which occurred just after 12.30am last Tuesday.

A number of those guests were visitors from overseas and today police chiefs admitted the international nature of the investigation would take more time as detectives obtain detailed statements.

DCI Buchanan added: "It's going to be a problematic factor in the investigation."

This week a police incident unit was placed outside the hotel on the first week anniversary of the fire at the Higher Bridge Street hotel, in an attempt by police to jog people's memories about the incident.

Detectives have confirmed that they believe there was a "human element" to the cause of the fire, but insist it is still not known if the blaze was arson or not. Anyone with information about the fire can contact the police incident room on 0161 856 5917.