THREE people had a lucky escape in the early hours of Tuesday when a severe blaze swept through a popular Leigh pub.

Firefighters were called at 3.30am to The Courts Hotel, on Church Street where fire swept through the seating area of the pub and gutted the premises, causing damage estimated at £60,000.

Landlord Mark Williams, his partner Kevin Kneale and step-daughter Anne Marie Kneale managed to escape just in time -- before a big explosion rocked the pub and smashed the windows.

Fire crews suspect the blaze was caused by a cigarette butt which hadn't been put out properly.

Mark, 23, who only became landlord of the pub last August, said they were lucky to be alive.

He said: "I was woken by a burglar alarm at 2.45am, and I was wondering what to do, when the fire alarm went off. I didn't think it was a fire at first, but when we saw the flames, we just woke Anne Marie up and tried to get out.

"There was only one way out of the pub because all the other exits had been blocked by the flames. The fire had spread so fast. We got out just in time before there was this big explosion. We are so lucky to be alive.

Come to terms

"I'm still trying to come to terms with everything that has happened. It's going to be at least six weeks before the pub can re-open again. There's so much damage to the floor, the ceiling, and the cellar. All the furniture has just gone. I can't live in the pub because there's so much damage, so I'm staying in a hotel."

A spokesman at Leigh fire station said: "When we arrived on the scene there were flames coming out of the windows. If we hadn't tackled the blaze quickly, it would certainly have spread to surrounding properties."

The Courts stands on the site of the old Magistrates' Court, which was built in 1873, and adjoined the town's police station. The courts closed in 1960 because of a lack of facilities for magistrates, police and the officials.