Man rescued as seven flee flats blaze

A man was rescued and seven people evacuated following a fire at flats in Union Street, Oldham.

A chip pan set alight at one of the flats at 11.55pm on Friday. When fire crews arrived, most residents had evacuated the Victoria Apartments, but one 39-year-old man was asleep in bed — in the flat where the fire had started.

Oldham watch manager Phil Stephenson said: “We tell people time and time again — alcohol and chip pans don’t mix. We urge everyone not to cook after drinking.

“Better still, throw away the chip pan and get a deep-fat fryer instead. This man has been lucky.”