A TWO-week-old baby girl was among a family plucked to safety from a window ledge by firefighters after fleeing a blaze at their home.

Daniel Smith (32), his partner Karen Wynne (31), four- year-old daughter Cameron and baby Erin were rescued by officers minutes after escaping from their fire-ravaged terraced home in Rainsough Brow, Prestwich.

Thick smoke and intense heat prevented the family using the staircase to get out.

They were forced to climb through a first-floor bedroom window onto the flat roof of the bay window from where they were rescued by firefighters. The blaze was due to an electrical fault in a tumble dryer in the kitchen.

Station Officer Ben Cartwright of Broughton fire station said: "It was very fortunate that this happened, and was able to alert her husband. By this time, the fire was well developed and the couple and their children couldn't get down the staircase. The kitchen was well alight.

"Daniel then took the family through the front bedroom window onto the flat roof of the bay window. With the baby, he then went across to the bay window next door."

Firefighters used short extension ladders to bring down the couple and the two children to safety.

All four were taken to hospital for a check-up, and are now staying with relatives until they are able to return to their own home.

It was later discovered that a smoke detector had had the battery removed.

Station Officer Cartwright added: "The main message is that batteries should never be taken out of a smoke detector. They should be changed once a year. And I would also urge that householders should have an escape plan in place should such an event occur."