A 52-year-old woman was hauled to safety from her smoke-filled flat by two neighbours who kicked in the door to reach her.

Mrs Ann Conway had only moved into the flat in Water Street, Radcliffe, hours before Sunday's drama.

Now she has praised her new neighbours Andy McCormack (27) and Geoff Clark (45) for saving her life.

They heard her shouting for help in the early hours after she woke to discover her flat was filled with smoke.

Mrs Conway said: "I'd put some clothes on the storage heater in the bedroom and then fell asleep in the living room. I've never had storage heaters before so I didn't realise how dangerous this was."

The clothes set on fire and the effects of the smoke on Mrs Conway's breathing caused her to wake shortly before 5am.

"I made my way to the front door but was so panic-stricken I could not use my key," she said. "Instead I broke a window and screamed for help."

Neighbour Mr McCormack, who rents a flat in the same row, heard her and ran to help.

"When I realised she was too panicked to use the front door I told her to lie down in the bathroom with a wet towel over her face while I rang 999," he said.

He returned and together with Mr Geoff Clark, of nearby Melton Row, they managed to knock down the front door.

"I couldn't see a thing because the flat was full of smoke. I was scared but my priority was to get her out of there," said Mr McCormack.

"I felt around and then bent down and found her in the bathroom. I just grabbed her by her sweater and frogmarched her out. I don't think her feet touched the ground."

Because Mr McCormack was himself suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, Mr Clark then took over and carried Mrs Conway down the outdoor metal fire-escape to safety. She was treated at Fairfield Hospital for the effects of smoke before being allowed home later that day.

Praising her two rescuers, she said: "They saved my life and I can't thank them enough."

Sub Officer Roy Grundy, of Whitefield fire station, said: "When we arrived at the scene, smoke was billowing from the property. There was smoke damage to the bedroom, a quantity of clothing, bedding and a carpet."

Commenting on Mrs Conway's escape, he added: "She did not have a smoke alarm in the flat. She was very lucky she woke up when she did. Normally, smoke wouldn't wake you up."

Fire crews were at the scene for an hour.