A 21-year-old Bury man jumped from a window to escape a blaze in his kitchen.

Keith Lawson had awoken to find the kitchen of his upstairs flat in the town's Kestrel Drive alight.

Despite the fumes and thick smoke, he was able to jump out a window to safety. Fire crews gave him oxygen at the scene, but he declined hospital treatment.

Officers, who were called to the scene at 2.15am on Tuesday (Sept 21) say Mr Lawson had put on a chip pan before later falling asleep.

He later awoke to discover the kitchen, which sustained 100 per cent smoke and fire damage, on fire.

The remainder of the flat was smoke-logged. Fire officers said the house was fitted with a smoke alarm, but despite the fact the device had a battery, it failed to activate.

They now warn householders with these alarms to check them once a week.

Mr Lawson declined to talk about the incident later.

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