A BLAZE from a washer and dryer caused nearby gas bottles to overheat.

A neighbour alerted the fire brigade when he heard explosions coming from the garage of a home in Lowercroft Road, Bury, last night.

Firefighters arrived to find aerosol cans exploding and the flames from the machine spreading to three Calor gas bottles.

The blaze was caused by a short circuit in the machine after Marie Turner had gone out for the evening.

The fire destroyed the electrical appliances and caused severe damage to the out-building.

Meanwhile, a man escaped injury after carrying a burning chip pan out of his house in Byrom Street, Bury, in the early hours this morning.

The homeowner John Warburton was woken by smoke after his niece had left the chip pan unattended.

He took the burning pan into his yard.

The kitchen was badly damaged in the fire.