A 66-YEAR-OLD man was taken to hospital suffering from burns after he tried to carry a blazing chip pan outside.

Firefighters were called to a semi-detached house in Douglas Road, Atherton, at around noon on Monday by neighbours who had been alerted by a smoke alarm.

The home owner had tried to carry the pan outside when he realised it was smoking.

But the pan went up in flames when he picked it up, burning his face and hands.

He was given first aid at the scene and then taken by ambulance to Wigan Infirmary for treatment.

The house suffered minor smoke damage.