FIREFIGHTERS say a man made a "valiant attempt" to rescue his girlfriend from their blazing home.

David Hough was beaten back by intense heat and smoke as he tried to get back into his burning home on Railway View to rescue girlfriend Ciara Tenanty in the early hours of Sunday.

Mr Hough, aged 32, suffered head injuries and needed treatment for smoke inhalation.

Miss Tenanty was found by firefighters in a first floor bedroom. She was taken to Chorley and District Hospital where she later died.

People in Adlington reacted with shock at the news of the death yesterday but few knew Mr Hough or Miss Tenanty well.

One neighbour said: "He lived at the house for more than five years and I believe the woman was his new girlfriend.

"I woke up on Sunday morning to see orange flashes from outside. At first I thought it was fireworks but then the fire brigade arrived.

"I thought it may have been a problem with the electricity but later found out it was a chip pan fire."

Another neighbour said: "They were nice quiet people who kept themselves to themselves."

Firefighters from Horwich, Chorley and Leyland were sent to the fire just after 2.45am on Sunday morning.

Station commander Mark Briscoe said: "When we arrived Mr Hough was in distress. He had made several attempts to get into the house but the heat and smoke were too much.

"He then smashed a window to reach the phone so he could call us.

"The fire was started in the kitchen by an unattended chip pan.

"Mr Hough made a valiant attempt to get back into the house but the golden rule is to get out, stay out and get the fire brigade out as quickly as possible."

Mr Hough was discharged from hospital yesterday.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said the fire was not being treated as suspicious and they were no longer involved in the investigation. The house in Railway View where David Hough tried in vain to rescue his girlfriend Ref: H4377/7a