FIREFIGHTERS rescued a mill caretaker after an arson attack left him trapped inside the building.

Michael Turner (44) was in his locked quarters at the Britannia Mills in Cobden Street, Bury, when a blazing wheelie bin was propped up against the front door.

Because that was his only access in and out of the building, Mr Turner was unable to escape as the burning door sent smoke billowing inside.

After the alarm was raised, two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced their way in through the fire-ravaged wooden doorway. Because of holes in the floor of the building, which is undergoing renovation, officers put ladders on to the ground to act as a makeshift walkway before leading Mr Turner to safety.

The rescue drama happened at 1.10am on Thursday, ten minutes after a separate but similar incident when a burning wheelie bin caused fire damage to a fence outside homes at the corner of nearby Thrush Drive and Huntley Mount Road.

Leading fireman Carl Bostock, of Bury fire station, said: "The wheelie bin had been put up against the doorway of the caretaker's quarters and set ablaze. He was locked in on the inside and his only exit was through the door which was on fire.

"Because of the outbreak, this activated the mill's sprinkler system and the place was waterlogged. Mr Turner was wet and trapped inside. But our two officers managed to get him out. Most of the doorway had burned away to allow them to get in. Because the floor had holes and was in a dangerous condition, we put ladders down to act as a walkway."

Mr Turner was given oxygen at the scene by an ambulance crew but did not require hospital treatment. Three fire crews were at the mill for 90 minutes. Fire damage was confined to the doorway and entrance hall.