A BONFIRE party at a Stoneclough pub nearly ended in disaster when unused fireworks started a blaze inside the building.

Landlord Malcolm Payne quickly evacuated more than 50 customers from The Grapes pub after smoke alarms and two regulars alerted them to the smouldering box of fireworks, which had been left on a staircase at the back of the pub.

The bonfire and fireworks display outside the pub had been finished for just under an hour and drinkers were back inside the building when the unused fireworks began smouldering and eventually set the staircase on fire.

Two customers grabbed a garden hose and managed to control the flames until the fire service arrived to finish the job.

The whole of the ground floor, first floor and attic of the building were filled with smoke and firemen brought in a special fan to clear the air. Fire damage was confined to the staircase and cleaning materials.

Station officer Robert Coote, of Farnworth fire station said the incident highlighted the importance of smoke alarms.

"The landlord and his staff did a brilliant job evacuating the pub quickly," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.