A MAN who rescued a neighbour from her burning home is to be put forward for a bravery reward.

Despite being beaten back twice by thick smoke, John Howarth risked his life a third time to reach Mrs Olive Howard who had collapsed on to an armchair as flames engulfed the living room of her home in Chestnut Avenue. Mrs Howard died in hospital from the effects of smoke inhalation three days after the fire on August 5.

At an inquest into her death last Thursday, Bury Coroner Mr Simon Nelson requested the fire service nominate Mr Howarth for a bravery award.

He said: "Mr Howarth acted without any regard for his own wellbeing by successfully extricating Mrs Howard at great personal risk."

Station Manager Brendan Dolan, who investigated the cause of the blaze agreed. He said: Mr Howarth was tenacious and certainly courageous. He made two attempts to get into the house but was beaten back by smoke. Rather than give up he persisted.

"I feel that his action deserves some form of recognition."

Mr Howarth (31) left his home to go to work at 6.15am on the morning of August 5 when he spotted smoke coming from Mrs Howard's house. He called to his father for help and then raced across the road and made the first of his three attempts to rescue his neighbour.

He said: "The front door of the house was unlocked and I entered. The smoke was thick and I was forced to leave. I tried again but the smoke was so bad.

"The next time I ducked down beneath the smoke and could see Mrs Howard's arm dangling over the armchair in her lounge. I reached her and dragged her out of the house. She was unconscious." An investigation by the fire service confirmed the blaze started in a wastepaper bin by the settee in the lounge.

The inquest heard how Mrs Howard woke in the early hours and, rather than disturb her partner, Christopher Brooks, went downstairs and slept on the couch. Moments after Mr Brooks left for work at 6am, she used a piece of paper to get a light for a cigarette from the gas fire. Unfortunately, she had not put it out properly when she through it into the bin which quickly burst in to flames. Mrs Howard, who had severe mobility difficulties and was a heavy smoker, was unable to tackle the fire herself and collapsed from smoke inhalation as she tried desperately to escape.

A postmortem examination revealed the mum of one developed pneumonia and bronchitis which were accelerated by the smoke inhalation.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the inquest Mr Howarth said: "I'm not too bothered about the award. I'd rather Mrs Howard was alive instead."