A HOUSE fire has broken out on a Bolton street leading to a number of residents being evacuated from their homes.

Fire fighters were called to the blaze on Ripley Street around lunch time on Bank Holiday Monday (May 25) with three appliances attending the scene.

Eye witnesses said they saw a fire in the roof area of a house with smoke spreading to adjoining residences.

Timothy Pope, said: "My nan lives next door but one to the house and she rang me so I went round to see her because she is vulnerable and to see if she was affected. Luckily she wasn't but the old couple next door were and the loft of their house has smoke damage.

"The house where the fire started has lost all its back windows and there's a lot of smoke damage."

Mr Pope said one woman and a number of children had escaped from the property and they are thought to be safe.

Fire fighters left the scene around 3pm but the house remains cordoned off and investigations are taking place.

Mr Pope added: "An inspector is here and said the celling is still hot so a fire hose has had to be put back in to drench the ceiling in the back bedroom."

It is not known what caused the fire.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At 1:25 p.m. on Monday, May 25, three fire engines from Bolton were called to reports of a fire involving an upstairs bedroom at a property on Ripley Street, Bolton.

“Firefighters were quickly on the scene and extinguished the fire using two hose reels, four breathing apparatus, and a positive pressure ventilation fan.

“Crews were in attendance for around an hour and a half.”