A COUPLE cheated death last night after fire destroyed their flat in Bolton.

Arthur Smith, aged 66, and Christina Cue, aged 53, woke to discover a blaze in their lounge which quickly engulfed their home with thick, poisonous smoke.

Firemen today said the pair were minutes from death.

But the couple managed to stagger to safety from their private third floor flat at Browsholme House, Heaton.

Bakery manager Mrs Cue was taken to hospital last night suffering from smoke inhalation.

Next door neighbour Joy Humphrey, aged 65, who also swallowed dense, toxic fumes on the flat landing after investigating the fire, also received treatment, but both women were allowed home.

Today retired Mr Smith and Mrs Cue were not at their gutted flat, but charred belongings including bedding, furniture and carpet were strewn on grass outside.

And about 12 residents in the three-floor block, who were evacuated as the blaze reached its height just after 11pm, told of their terror.

Margaret Gilpin, aged 71, who lives on the second floor, told the BEN: "It was just awful. I was sleeping when I heard this almighty crash, bang and wallop upstairs. I didn't know what was going on, but the next thing I knew a neighbour was knocking on the door telling me to get out.

"Smoke was everywhere and I was terrified. It's such a shame for Christina and Arthur. It seems they've lost everything."

Firemen told the BEN that Mrs Cue, who works for Greenhalgh's Bakery, and Mr Smith were lucky to survive.

"The smoke was dense and the flat gutted," said station officer Allan Butterworth. "A few more minutes and this would have been a different story."

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but it is believed a cigarette or electrical fault sparked a fire in an armchair. Couple flee

flat blaze A COUPLE cheated death last night after fire destroyed their flat in Bolton.

Arthur Smith, aged 66, and Christina Cue, 53, woke to discover a blaze in their lounge, which quickly engulfed their home with thick, poisonous smoke.

Firemen today said the pair were minutes from death.

But the couple managed to stagger to safety from their third floor flat at Browsholme House, Westgate Avenue, Heaton.

Bakery manager Mrs Cue was taken to hospital last night suffering from smoke inhalation.

Next door neighbour Joy Humphrey, aged 65, who also swallowed dense, toxic fumes on the flat landing after investigating the fire, also received treatment, but both women were allowed home.

Today retired Mr Smith and Mrs Cue were not at their gutted flat, but charred belongings including bedding, furniture and carpet were strewn on grass outside.

And about 12 residents in the three-floor block, who were evacuated as the blaze reached its height just after 11pm, told of their terror.

Margaret Gilpin, aged 71, who lives on the second floor, told the BEN: "It was just awful. I was sleeping when I heard this almighty crash, bang and wallop upstairs. I didn't know what was going on, but the next thing I knew a neighbour was knocking on the door telling me to get out.

"Smoke was everywhere and I was terrified. It's such a shame for Christina and Arthur. It seems they've lost everything."

Firemen told the BEN that Mrs Cue, who works for Greenhalgh's Bakery, and Mr Smith were lucky to survive.

"The smoke was dense and the flat gutted," said station officer Allan Butterworth. "A few more minutes and this would have been a different story."

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but it is believed a cigarette or electrical fault sparked a fire in an armchair.

Pair escape flat blaze

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