TWO elderly ladies were rescued in the early hours from their burning bedrooms at an Atherton residential home.

The two women were sleeping when fire broke out at Woodlands House Residential Home in Woodlands Drive, Atherton, at 3.20am on Thursday. Staff evacuated some of the 30 elderly residents as smoke began to spread.

Firefighters from Atherton and Bolton were quickly at the home.

Wearing breathing apparatus, they lifted 90-year-old Nellie Counsell, and 85-year-old Alice Dean, both orginally from Atherton, from their beds and carried them to safety.

The two were given oxygen treatment in the reception area before being taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where they were treated for the effects of smoke. Their condition was described as stable.

Mrs Counsell suffers from a heart and lung condition and is being kept under observation.

Her concerned nephew, care worker Stewart Cartwright, of Coach Road, Astley, said yesterday that his aunt was due to be transferred to the assesment unit.

He said: "I have telephoned the hospital and they have told me she is stable but they are keeping a close eye on her."

Firefighters praised the three staff on night shift at the home. The residents are mostly from Atherton, Leigh and Tyldesley but come from as far away as Liverpool. Senior Fire Officer Simon Hunt said: "They acted in a professional manner and enacted fire procedures in a competent manner."

Staff wrapped the evacuated residents in blankets, and kept them warm while the fire was extinguished.

A fire brigade spokesman said the blaze started in an electrical extractor fan in a ground floor bathroom, and spread underneath the floorboards of the bedroom above.

The fire alarm was activated and prevented a serious incident, the spokesman said.

Home manager Janet Hope said: "The staff did an excellent job and acted very quickly and very efficiently.

"All the residents other than the two ladies in hospital were unharmed, and our eldest resident, 99-year-old Florence Gastrell, from Atherton, slept through the whole thing. Only a handful of residents had to be moved from their beds in accordance with advice from the fire officers."

The home was contacting concerned relatives yesterday to reassure them.

Only two of the residents, Mrs Counsell and Mrs Dean will eventually have to be relocated to another home.

The damage was restricted to the floor and ceiling of the two affected bedrooms.