A CARE worker has been praised as a 'lifesaver' after fire broke out in the Stretford flat of a 97 year old woman.

Carer Jo Casey was visiting Enid Thomson, at her elderly person's flat at The Hawthorns, on Edge Lane, when the blaze occurred in her bathroom.

She said: "I was preparing her breakfast when I heard a loud bang from the bathroom. When I went to have a look the ceiling and shower curtain were on fire and highly explosive toiletry cannisters had been engulfed by the flames."

Unfazed by the flames, Jo, who has been a care workers for a matter of weeks, closed the bathroom door to halt the progress of the fire and helped a hard of hearing Enid out of her flat.

After calling the emergency services, she alerted other residents to the blaze and the building was evacuated.

Two fire pumps attended the fire and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus brought the fire under control, but not before it destroyed Enid's bathroom.

Jo's boss Ian Helsby, of Bluebird Care said: " It is indeed fortunate that Josephine was there at the time when the fire began as it took hold very quickly

"I am truly proud of Jo’s outstanding actions, which undoubtedly saved this vulnerable lady’s life and possibly those of others.

"Jo’s very prompt response to immediately close the internal doors to stop the spread of the fire, coupled with her recent induction fire training, gave time for a safe escape for everyone, and she is a true credit to herself and the Bluebird Care Trafford team."

Enid's niece Wendy Rowles who sent Jo a bouquet of flowers for her courageous efforts, said: "Without doubt Jo saved Enid's life. It doesn't bear thinking about but if the fire had occurred 15 minutes later Jo would not have been there. We can't thank her enough."

The fire, which occurred on January 4, is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault in strip lighting.