THREE blazing beds, propped up in a corridor, were the source of a fierce fire which swept through a Bolton hotel killing two pensioners, detectives revealed today.

The beds had been placed against a wall outside the room of Blackpool pensioners William and Margaret Robertson, who died in the blaze.

And today it was revealed that a number of guests staying at the hotel that night have not been interviewed by detectives.

A police spokesman said: "We believe that there may have been other guests at the hotel that night and for reasons known only to themselves do not want to come forward."

Today senior police chiefs refused to confirm that the blaze at the Higher Bridge Street hotel last Tuesday morning was the work of an arsonist.

Det Supt Dave Jones of Bolton Police said: "At this stage it would appear there is a human element to the cause of the fire and I would like to emphasise that whether this is malicious or accidental is still unknown.

"Further forensic tests are on-going using similar materials as those in the hotel corridor in different scenarios to establish through a process of elimination the cause of the fire."

Official confirmation of the seat of the fire comes days after the BEN exclusively revealed a burning mattress had sparked the blaze.

It is nearly a week since 75-year-old former Clyde shipbuilder Mr Robertson and his 81-year-old wife were found by firefighters in the corridor after 128 other hotel guests were evacuated from the hotel.

Post mortem examinations conducted last week gave the cause of their deaths as smoke inhalation.

Tonight a police incident room was due to be set up outside the four-star hotel from 5pm to 1am in a bid to jog peoples' memories as a detailed joint police, fire and forensic investigation goes on.

Detectives today urged potential witnesses to the blaze, including shift workers, taxi drivers and customers who may have left a nearby Bolton casino, to come forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bolton Police incident room on 0161 856 5961 or the Crimestoppers freephone hotline 0800 555111.