FIREFIGHTERS carried out the dramatic rescue of a man who was overcome as he bravely tried to save a blazing house.

Peter Frost, aged 38, became trapped in the smoke and heat as he tried to fight the fire in the house next to his own in Astley Street, Astley Bridge.

Police began an investigation when fire crews were called back just two hours later when another blaze broke out in the front room of the house.

Fire crews arrived at the first blaze to find a crowd of people outside. The house, in the middle of a row of a terrace, is unoccupied and undergoing renovation.

Mr Frost, who lives next door to the blaze-damaged house, first tried to break in through the door with a hammer.

When that failed, he climbed in through a front window but was overwhelmed by smoke in the living room of the burning house.

Firemen in breathing apparatus pulled him to safety in the nick of time and he was given oxygen outside as he was treated by paramedics. But he recovered and declined hospital treatment.

Kitchen units and other items were severely damaged by the fire which is believed to have been started deliberately.

Three fire crews, one from Bolton North and two from Bolton Central, fought the blaze.

The fire was under control in 30 minutes but firemen remained at the scene until around 2am yesterday.

A ventilation fan was used in the houses on either side to disperse smoke. Three people in the house on the other side of the burning property from Mr Frost escaped safely.

Det Ch Insp David Emsley of Bolton police said: "A detective is looking at the incidents this morning. Both are are being treated as suspicious."

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