A COUPLE who died in a suspicious fire at a hotel in Bolton earlier this week are believed to have come from Blackpool.

The elderly husband and wife were found in a smoke-filled corridor of the Moat House Hotel and given emergency first aid before being taken to hospital but were found to be dead.

A Home Office pathologist has completed a post mortem examination on the two victims but their identities have still to be officially released.

More than 120 people were evacuated from the modern seven-storey hotel when the fire broke out on the third floor.

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police are due to interview former employees of the hotel as the probe into the tragic blaze gathers pace and a detailed fingertip search of a fire-ravaged corridor at the Bolton Moat House hotel goes on.

The senior officer leading the police investigation Det Supt Dave Jones of Bolton Police insisted the cause of the blaze could not be determined until the forensic investigation is completed.

He added: "We will be interviewing staff members and people that have been previously employed there."

The hotel is also understood to have received a number of threats, although a spokesman for the Moat House's parent group insisted they had not been made aware of any malicious calls.

And only hours before the horror hotel blaze, guests were evacuated after a fire alarm was activated after an iron had been left switched on.

Station officer Jeff Gill said: "The area has been sealed off since the incident and a detailed fingertip search has been ongoing.

"Every detail is being examined to determine the exact cause of the fire. This could go on well in to the day. Once that has been completed all the agencies involved will get back together to discuss the findings."