A neighbour of a Lancashire man who died after a fire just hours into the national firefighters' strike said he had to force open the door for police.

Clive Mackim said he broke through the door of the house in Burnley using a crowbar because police officers were unable to get in.

The BBC understands paramedics took up to 20 minutes to reach the scene, after the 83-year-old man was rescued from his house.

The pensioner was one of three people to die in the UK in the hours after the strike began at 1800 GMT on Wednesday.

The police officers were not experienced in this, but they had to do it because the Army cannot break and enter

Clive Mackim, neighbour

Mr Mackim said police officers spent up to three minutes trying to get in the house before he stepped in.

He told BBC News 24: "I split the door casing... which means you can generally kick it in - but the officers were hacking away at the door handle.

"They are not experienced in this, but they had to do it because the army are not allowed to break and enter."

The Army said the crew had arrived within six minutes of being called and they are happy with their response to the incident.

Clive Mackim said he had to force the door open

Firefighters later said that if they had been asked to attend, they would have done.

Kevin Murray, of Lancashire Fire Service, said: "If we had known there someone in a house, distressed, then we would have made an attendance and I don't think I am alone in saying that."

Soldiers forced their way into the building and found the man in an upstairs room, at the house in Sutcliffe Street, in the Briercliffe area of the town.

The pensioner was taken to Burnley General Hospital, but died after suffering the effects of smoke.

Stolen car

In Greater Manchester, full-time firefighters left their picket line to assist police after a car crashed just yards from a fire station.

The car that crashed outside Stretford fire station in Greater Manchester was believed to have been stolen.

It was being followed by police when it hit another car before colliding with a tree.

Three people were being treated in hospital on Thursday.