A MOTHER and her five children needed hospital treatment after they had to dash out of their smoke-filled home in the early hours of the morning.

Flames broke out in the kitchen of the home in Vernon Street, Bury, shortly after 5am on Tuesday when a chip pan was left unattended.

The 26-year-old mother, her two sons and three daughters, managed to escape the property as firefighters turned out to the scene.

Two officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the house and used a hose reel to extinguish the burning chip pan. The kitchen suffered severe smoke damage.

Station officer Peter Fletcher of Bury fire station said: "Together with paramedics, the occupants of the house were given oxygen after suffering from smoke inhalation. They were all taken to Fairfield General Hospital as a precaution.

"This could have been a very tragic incident. There was no smoke alarms anywhere in the house and it is fortunate the mum woke when she did and evacuated her children to safety.

"I would urge every resident to install smoke alarms. They do protect lives and property."

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is currently carrying out free Home Risk Assessments, giving residents at least one working smoke alarm. Ring 0800 555 815.