TODDLER Ashley Hoppley is being hailed a hero after raising the alarm when a neighbour's house caught fire.

The quick-thinking two-year-old, of Grundy Avenue, Prestwich alerted his stunned mum after he spotted smoke billowing out of the bedroom window of the house on Pimlott Grove, which backs on to his own.

His actions ensured that a neighbour and her seven-year-old son in the house escaped to safety unscathed.

The drama began on Wednesday afternoon when Ashley was playing in the back garden with 17-month-old brother Daniel. Ashley stayed outside in the sunshine with his colouring books while Daniel went inside to join mum Suzanne (pictured with Ashley).

Proud Suzanne said: "He came inside and and started saying 'mummy, look smoke'. When I went outside he pointed to the house and there was thick black smoke billowing out of the upstairs bedroom window.

"I knew it was a little boy's room so I grabbed Ashley under my arm, put Daniel in his pushchair, ran round and started banging on the front door."

After getting no answer Suzanne, who has no telephone in her house, alerted another neighbour who called the fire brigade.

Suzanne added: "He is a little hero. It is very quiet round here and there was no one else who spotted the fire. I have been teaching him about the dangers of fire and smoke so he came and told me."

Fire crews from Blackley and Broughton spent an hour tackling the blaze.

Mrs Pauline Swire was dozing on the sofa while son Aaron watched a video when the blaze broke out in her house.

Dazed she said: "I had been working the night before and Aaron wasn't well so he didn't go to school. I woke up to find my neighbour in the house saying there was a fire.

"I am still in shock. The room is completely gutted. I am really grateful to Ashley and Suzanne and the other people who helped."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.