'Ditch your chip pans', public urged

PEOPLE have been told to ask Father Christmas to replace their chip pans after a fire in Chadderton.

Firefighters were called to a blaze in Warbeck Road on Friday afternoon after a man fell asleep and left a chip pan unattended.

Someone else in the house was alerted by a smoke alarm and smothered the flames with a damp tea towel.

The fire damaged several cupboards and caused extensive smoke damage.

Watch manager Andy Guilfoyle from Chadderton Fire Station, described the incident as a lucky escape.

He said it highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms and added: "If they didn't have smoke alarms they would never have known about the fire,.

"I would also urge people to ask Father Christmas for a deep fat fryer with a thermostat."