A man had a lucky escape from a chip pan fire in his flat when firefighters woke him by pounding on his front door.

Firefighters from Bradford fire station were called to the first-floor flat at Evans Towers, Bowling, Bradford at 10.30pm yesterday.

They could smell burning and a smoke detector was sounding, but no-one responded to the crews' shouts and knocking at the door.

Just as the crew were thinking about breaking down the door down, a middle-aged man came and answered.

Harvey Stewart, watch manager at Bradford fire station, said the man had begun cooking and fallen asleep in another room while his kitchen filled with smoke.

"It caused smoke damage to the kitchen."