BOLTON firefighters have been hailed as heroes for saving the lives of four dogs, a cat and a hamster in two separate house fires.

The hamster had stopped breathing and was brought back from the brink of death after being given oxygen and cardiac massage.

One grateful family have presented a box of chocolates to the firefighters involved.

Ronnie McCarthy, his partner Rachel Hammond and their three children said they cannot thank the firemen enough.

The fire in the kitchen of their home in Tithe Barn Crescent, Hall i'th' Wood, was discovered at the weekend after the family had gone into Bolton town centre.

Neighbours spotted smoke and alerted the fire brigade fearing someone was still in the house.

The only occupants were discovered to be two dogs and a cat.

Mr McCarthy, a taxi driver, said: "We told the firefighters about the pets and they raced back in to get them.

"They were very brave and we can't thank them enough.

"One of the dogs is blind so he was terrified."

The family has also been amazed at the generosity of customers using Tonge Moor Taxis, where Mr McCarthy has only recently started to work, who have sent parcels of clothes and toys to help.

Almost all of the family's clothes were in the kitchen ready to be washed leaving them just with the outfits they were wearing on Saturday. Mr McCarthy, aged 30, said: "The worst thing is we weren't insured and just about everything we own is smoke damaged. But we're glad to be alive.

"If I had been working on Friday night I would have still been in bed on Saturday morning so God knows what would have happened then."

The fire started shortly after 10am in a faulty toaster.

The family is now living with relatives until the house is repaired.

And, in a separate incident yesterday, a hamster was given the kiss of life after escaping from a fierce house fire in Breightmet.

The blaze at the semi-detached house in Rochester Avenue is believed to have started after an electric paint stripper was left plugged in and ignited a pile of clothes under the hall stairway.

Tracy Rickman, and her 20-month-old son Adam ran into the garden to escape the smoke.

Firefighters rescued Tracy's two dogs and Bubbles the hamster, who had been found on his back in his cage.

Firefighter Alan Haddock revived Bubbles by administering oxygen and giving him cardiac massage.

Tracy and her family have moved next-door into her parents home while they wait for repairs to be carried out.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.