A REWARD of £20,000 has been put up to help catch the arsonists who caused a fire at a Bolton hotel in which an elderly Blackpool couple died.

William Robertson, 75, and his wife Margaret, 81, died while trying to escape a fire which was started deliberately in the third floor corridor of the Moat House Hotel on April 24 this year.

More than 120 people were evacuated from the seven-storey building when the blaze broke out, but Mr and Mrs Robertson were overcome by smoke, and were later found lying in the corridor.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Following the fire, £20,000 is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

"Greater Manchester Police Authority have offered a reward of £10,000, matched by another £10,000 from the Moat House group, the organisation which owns the Bolton hotel."

Since police inquiries started, officers have interviewed more than 100 people who were staying in the hotel when the fire started but they are appealing for more people to come forward.

Detective chief inspector Paul Buchanan of Bolton CID said: "Forensic tests have revealed that this fire was started deliberately but we still believe that the intention was not necessarily to kill."

He said officers did not think the couple had been deliberately targeted. "In our minds it is more likely that this was a practical joke or prank which has gone horribly wrong. For this reason we believe that the person responsible will have confided in their friends or acquaintances."

He appealed for anyone with any information to contact the police on 0161-856-5961, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.