A BIT of DIY pest control had a sting in the tail for one unlucky Prestwich resident.

The man, in his early 20s, leaned out of a bedroom window at his second-floor flat in Roman Road in a bid to burn out a wasps' nest in the roof eaves, using a cigarette lighter and an aerosol can.

But his actions on Sunday evening (Aug 8) sparked a blaze which damaged the roof and the loft.

Fire crews from Agecroft arrived at the Bury Council-owned flats at 6.20pm to find the property well alight. The heat and flames from the canister had set fire to the bitumen roof cladding, which spread to the loft inside. A number of other residents had to be evacuated.

They managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread. The whole flat suffered heavy smoke damage and the man and his family had to spend the night with friends.

Due to the severity of the damage, Bury Council have had to rehouse the man and his family.

Now, fire chiefs are urging pest-plagued residents to make a bee-line for professional help rather than deal with nests themselves.

Officer Andy McKenzie from Agecroft fire station, said: "Using lighters and aerosol cans in this way can be very dangerous. The council has its own pest control service and people should use it."