Woman dies in house fire

The fire is believed to have started in the lounge

A woman has died after fire broke out at a house in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

The victim, aged in her 40s, was found by fire crews in a back bedroom early on Thursday morning.

Two men managed to escape from the house before fire crews arrived, after being called at about 2330 BST on Wednesday.

A joint police and fire service investigation has begun to establish how the fire, in Bradford Street, began.

'People trapped'

A Greater Manchester Fire Service spokeswoman said crews faced an "intense fire".

"They received reports that people were trapped in the house and they had to battle their way through extensive flames and smoke," she said.

"Unfortunately one woman was found to be dead in a back bedroom.

"Two further people left the property of their own accord before crews arrived."

Cat dead

One man was led to safety from a guest house next door, and people left other nearby guest houses because of the volume of smoke caused by the fire.

A cat was also found dead in the house and a dog suffered extensive burns and was taken away by the RSPCA for treatment.

The fire started is believed to have started in the lounge on the ground floor of the house.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "A joint investigation between ourselves and the fire service is beginning to try to establish the cause of the fire."

Fire crews were still at the scene on Thursday morning, and were expected to be damping down at the house throughout the day.