A FAMILY of six escaped as a fierce blaze swept through their Bury home.

The Madden family, including a teenager daughter and three younger children, were forced to flee the house in Sanderson Street shortly after midnight.

The blaze wrecked the front bedroom and the rest of the house was badly damaged by smoke.

Terry and Karen Madden were woken by their 16-year-old daughter Natalie as the fire took hold. It is thought that a TV set, which had been left on stand-by, short circuited and started the blaze.

Mr Madden tried to tackle the fire before two fire crews from the Bury station reached the house.

Station Officer Peter Seddon said: "The mother and daughter were both treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and the teenager was taken to hospital for further treatment.

"The fire destroyed the upper floor and the family are very lucky to have become aware of the blaze so soon."

He warned against leaving TVs and other electrical gear on stand-by mode.

"The safest action to take is to turn the TV off completely, preventing any power surge causing the television to short circuit."

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