FIREFIGHTERS smashed their way into a Bury woman's smoke-logged home to rescue a seven-week-old puppy.

Sabre, an alsatian cross, was in the kitchen when the fire started. Dog owner Susan Worsley (29) was out of the house with her boyfriend Brian Liggett (pictured with Sabre) at the time.

It is thought children set fire to a settee left outside against the kitchen wall at the back of the house in Hazel Avenue.

Firemen wearing breathing apparatus broke in through the back door and rescued Sabre. He was given oxygen and was soon bouncing around and back to his normal self.

Susan and Brian are waiting be be rehoused while their council property is repaired. Susan said: "Sabre was trapped and the firemen did a really good job. He could have died from the smoke if it wasn't for them. We have a pet rat called Silver who was out of harm's way in the front room when the fire started. If they had known about him they would probably have rescued him as well."

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