A hero dad who saved the lives of twin toddlers by rescuing them from their blazing home is hoping to be reunited with them 25 years on.

Kenneth Whitham hit the headlines in the Telegraph & Argus in November 1982 when he plucked the girls from their smoke-filled bedroom.

He was hailed a hero and awarded a bravery certificate by West Yorkshire Fire Service.

Now Mr Whitham is hoping to mark his 50th year by meeting up with Natalie and Naomi Wright who were then his neighbours in Salt Street, Manningham.

The girls, who he believes are still in the Bradford area, would be about the same age as his own eldest daughter Alison, 27.

Mr Whitham's memories were rekindled when his heroic deed was featured in the T&A's "On This Day" column last month.

Taken from the front page of November 28, 1982, the article reads: "Hero neighbour Kenneth Whitham saved twin toddlers from being burned alive in their beds. He fought through choking smoke and flames to rescue Naomi and Natalie Wright from their house in Salt Street, Manningham."

Mr Whitham said: "I began reflecting on what happened and wondering how the girls would look now."

He and his wife, Carol, have three daughters, Alison, Kelly, 26, and Nicola, 24, and six grandchildren.

Mr Whitham, of Thornton Road, Bradford, recalled the Saturday night he saw smoke billowing from the house opposite.

He rushed in through the back door and heard crying from the smoke-filled upstairs.

He said: "The crying stopped and I knew that meant trouble. I closed the living room door, where the flames were, ran round the front and smashed the windows.

"Someone passed me a wet cloth to put over my head. I ran upstairs and saw a little girl on the floor. I took her out and ran back for the second girl.

"Their mother was at the top of the stairs in shock and I told her to get out quickly.

"I grabbed the second girl from the bed.

"Firemen gave them mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the paramedics took over.

"I was told they were minutes from death. Fear did not come into my head when I went into the house.

"I knew I had to hurry when they stopped crying."

The former scaffolder always went out on a Saturday evening and feels it was "meant to be" that he stayed in the day of the fire.

Mr Whitham, who celebrates his 50th birthday in October, would love to meet up with the twins before this Christmas.

He was a community hero even before he saved the girls. He has a certificate from the High Sheriff for helping police catch a mugger who robbed an elderly woman in Manningham.

"I Kung Fu kicked his car and took down the registration number," he said.

e-mail: jenny.loweth @bradford.newsquest.co.uk