A man and a woman are fighting for their lives following a house fire in Prestwich.
A teenage girl is also in hospital after the blaze broke out at a property in Richmond Avenue, in the Sedgley Park area, at about 3.30am this morning (Monday, May 10).
Neighbours said they heard 'screaming and banging' coming from inside the home.
Firefighters managed to pull the woman, in her 50s, and the girl - believed to be her daughter - from the burning building.
A third person, a man in his 30s, was already outside when crews arrived.
Police say the woman and the man were taken to hospital, where they are in a critical condition.
Meanwhile, officers say the teenage girl is currently in a stable condition.
One neighbour told the Manchester Evening News they awoke to hear screams coming from the semi-detached property.
They added: "I looked out of the back window and saw flames and smoke.
"It looked pretty bad.
"There was a fire engines and they (firefighters) were running with ladders.
"An ambulance came a few minutes later and a paramedic ran off with a young girl on her back."
Another neighbour added: "It was scary.
"There were three fire engines outside. They knocked down the door and took out the people.
"I hope they are okay."
Firefighters from Manchester Central, Whitefield, Broughton and Agecroft fire stations used hose reels and a positive pressure ventilation fan to bring the flames under control.
Crews remained on the residential street throughout Monday morning.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but police say they do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances.
An investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).
Firefighters have praised the 'bravery' of the teenage girl, who they say raised the alarm.
GMFRS Area Manager, Ben Levy, said: “This incident could have been so much worse without the combination of the bravery of the teenager who called 999, the life-saving guidance of NWFC, and the skill and dedication of the firefighters who saved them.
“This is a timely reminder for people to have working smoke detectors on both floors, for advice please go to our website manchesterfire.gov.uk.”
