FIRE chiefs have called on a housing association to examine the layout of the flats on an Urmston estate after a blaze trapped residents in their homes.

The fire started in a bin store at the front of one of the ground floor flats in Peveril Courts, off Railway Road, Urmston, at 11pm on Tuesday night.

But it spread to gas and electric meters located at the front of the flats, trapping residents in their homes.

The flats only have one access point, which was blocked by the fire.

Estate manager, Harold Wells, who lives just a few doors from where the fire broke out told SUM: "A total of six flats were evacuated by the firemen.

"One woman and her son had to be rescued from a first floor flat by the fire service. They were taken to hospital. Everyone else managed to get themselves out.

"We are very fortunate there weren't any serious casualties or fatalities."

Fire crews were at the scene until 5.30am on yesterday (Wednesday).

The crews had wait for Transco to isolate the gas supply before they could tackle the fire caused by the gas.

Station Commander Graham Richardson from Stretford fire station explained: "If we had just tackled the gas fire we would have been left with a gas leak."

Fire crews used four breathing apparatus and worked in shifts to put the fire out.

During the night crews rescued a woman and her son, who were both taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Station Commander Graham Richardson from Stretford fire station Graham Richardson continued: "The only way out for the woman in the top flat was past the fire. I am going to raise those concerns with the maintenance officer and liaise with him to improve the situation."

A spokesman for flat owners Northern Counties said: "The property does meet all the current regulatory standards, it was built in 1981 when bins were less of a fire hazard than they are now and up to now there has been no problem with it.

"What we are going to do is work with the fire officer to do a risk assessment and put in place any recommendations.

"But our main priority at the moment is to make sure that the gas and electricity supply is reconnected, and to rehouse tenants who have been made homeless."