A DOG died in a house fire in Radcliffe after heroic neighbours tried to rescue it.

The owner of the house in Williamson Avenue, was out when the blaze started in the kitchen.

A neighbour who lives opposite the property spotted smoke coming from the windows, and ran to check if anyone was inside. Others came to help and they managed to free one dog, but the other died in the blaze.

The fire service was called at 10.30am on Saturday, and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I could smell smoke and I thought someone was having a fire in the garden, but then I looked out and saw smoke coming out of the window. I ran out and got help from other neighbours, who called the fire brigade.

“I lifted the letterbox and could see thick black smoke. We managed to force the back door and shouted to see if anyone was in there.

“One of the dogs managed to get out but sadly the other one did not make it.

“I don’t think I did anything heroic, anyone would have done the same thing. The firefighters are the real unsung heroes, they do this everyday.”

The house was gutted by the fire. The woman who lived there was too upset to talk about it.