FIREMEN have praised a brave six-year old boy who saved his sleeping family from a blaze at their home.

John Walton, from Levens Drive, Breightmet, was awoken by the smell of smoke.

His four-year-old brother Matthew had been playing with a cigarette lighter and had set fire to the bedroom curtains.

Cool-headed John, a pupil at St Andrew's primary school, led his brother to safety, shut the bedroom door behind him to stop the fire spreading, then alerted his mum Jacqueline Walton. Also asleep in the house were Jacqueline's sister Debbie and her 15-month old son Jayden.

Jacqueline said today: "I'm so proud of my beautiful son. He saved our lives. We were all fast asleep when it happened. If John had not woken us all up we would be dead now.

"I was all of a panic when John told me what had happened. But he was really cool about it. He's such a brave boy and we're all very grateful."

Jacqueline was later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after she attempted to go back into the house to fight the fire. The bedroom curtains, carpet and some clothing were damaged by fire. Bolton North sub officer Peter Stephenson said: "The youngster undoubtedly saved the lives of his family and because he shut the bedroom door he stopped the fire from developing." Mr Stephenson added that the house had been fitted with a free smoke alarm but that the batteries had run out. "I can't emphasise enough that people should check that their alarms are in working order."

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