A NEW road has been named in memory of a firefighter who died tackling a blaze.

Stephen Hunt, who grew up in Whitefield and had been living in New Road, Radcliffe, was found collapsed inside Paul's Hair World in Manchester's Northern Quarter whilst attempting to put out the fire in July 2013.

A road in Miles Platting, near Philips Park fire station, has been named Stephen Hunt Street in his honour.

His mother and step-father, Susan and Wilf Veevers, were among those who attended a ceremony to unveil one of the road signs on Tuesday.

Mr Veevers thanked everyone for attending and said: “We are all very proud and it’s a huge honour. It shows people are thinking of Stephen and that people are proud of him. The family is over the moon with the honour.

“All of Stephen’s watch were there alongside many other firefighters. I would like to thank all those behind the project and everyone who attended the ceremony.”

Manchester councillor John Flanagan along with fellow councillors, June Hitchen and Carmine Grimshaw, suggested the new street be named in Mr Hunt’s memory to honour his sacrifice serving the community he loved.

An inquest into Mr Hunt's death earlier this year found that he was unlawfully killed by two 15-year-old girls who had probably started the fire deliberately by smoking cigarettes at the rear of the building.

The father-of-two, aged 38,  was one of about 50 firefighters who tackled the blaze, but got into difficulties while inside the building.

Following the inquest, the case is currently being reviewed by Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if any further action should be taken against the two girls, who were both aged 15 at the time.

The girls - who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested in connection with the fire. One was charged with an arson offence, but the charge was dropped just days before a trial was due to start in Manchester last year.