A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy wrecked the upstairs of his home after starting a fire with a cigarette lighter.

Fire crews were called to Manchester Road, Tyldesley, at around 1.10pm on Friday after a call from the boy's mother who was forced to flee the house with him as the fire swept through a bedroom and the upstairs of the house.

The blaze, which started on a duvet in the back bedroom of the terraced property, quickly spread through the upstairs of the house and into the roof space filling the property with smoke.

An 18-year-old woman, thought to be the boy's mother, and the boy were taken to Hope Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and later discharged.

Fire crews worked for more than three hours to bring the fire under control.

The property suffered damage to the bedroom, hall, stairs and landing and the ceiling collapsed in the back bedroom.

Sub-officer David Smith of Farnworth Fire Station said: "We've given advice to the parents on the dangers of small children getting access to lighters and matches.

"The obvious danger is that children are intrigued by fire but aren't necessarily aware of the dangers that it can cause.

"This was a substantial fire and could have been much more serious but thankfully they were able to get themselves out of the house quickly."