FOUR people jumped out of a first-floor window when fire broke out at a Bacup pub early today.

The fire, caused by an electrical fault, started in the bar area of the New Inn, Rochdale Road, and the four people were asleep upstairs when smoke alarms went off.

Proprietor Paul Grenaghan tried to tackle the blaze with an extinguisher, but he was beaten back.

Paul and his girlfriend, Emma Talbot, smashed a first-floor window and jumped on to the road followed by licensee Les Knights and his fiancM-Ne, Sheila Walton.

All were treated at the scene by paramedics for cuts and bruises and Mr Knights was taken to Rochdale Infirmary. Mr Grenaghan said: "It should have been a time for celebration because on July 20 I will have had the pub for 12 months."

Three-quarters of the bar area was badly damaged by fire and the pavement was covered with glass, burned pieces of wood, doors and even a charred Christmas tree.

The first floor is badly smoke damaged and the windows have been boarded up.

Two pumps from Bacup attended and six firefighters tackled the fire.

Sub Officer John Lord said the crews were there for three and a half hours and fortunately for the people above the pub, smoke alarms sounded and they managed to get out.

A black Ford Fiesta parked outside the pub was covered with fragments of glass.

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