A hero who saved twin toddlers from their blazing home had his Christmas dream come true when three generations of the family thanked him.

Kenneth Whitham wept as he hugged Natalie Wright and her mother Maureen Hussain at an emotional reunion 25 years on.

Natalie and her sister Naomi were seconds from death when Mr Whitham braved a fierce fire at their Bradford home to pluck them to safety.

He ordered Mrs Hussain, who was in shock and suffering from smoke inhalation, to get downstairs and out of the burning house.

Mr Whitham, who runs a scaffolding business, was hailed a hero and awarded a bravery certificate by West Yorkshire Fire Service after rescuing the tots in November 1982.

He always wondered what became of them and his curiosity was revived when his daring deed was featured in the T&A's "On This Day" column last month.

Mr Whitham, of Thornton Road, Bradford, appealed through the Telegraph & Argus for news of Natalie and Naomi, his neighbours in Salt Street, Manningham, in 1982.

He hoped to mark his 50th birthday year by meeting up with the family.

His wish came true at a reunion Christmas party at the weekend at the Rose and Crown, White Abbey Road, Bradford.

Mr Whitham's wife, Carol, and their three daughters, Alison, 27, Kelly, 26, and Nicola, 24, attended.

Natalie, of Merchants Court, West Bowling, Bradford, said: "I just wanted to say thank you. I am so glad Kenneth saw the fire when he did.

"I found out when I was about ten that someone had saved us and for years we wanted to meet him.

"It is really scary. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Kenneth - he is my hero."

Natalie brought along her daughter Sade, aged four, to meet Mr Whitham and his family.

Naomi, who lives in London, hoped to be there but her son Myron, aged ten months, was poorly.

Mrs Hussain, 44, of Lister View, Bradford, was treated in hospital, along with the twins, after the blaze.

Firefighters said the toddlers were "seconds from death".

"I can't remember the night of the fire. I went into shock.

"Kenneth is a good man, a hero. If it wasn't for him, the girls wouldn't be here at all," Mrs Hussain said.

Mr Whitham said the fire broke out on the first Saturday night he had stayed in for many months.

"The children had stopped crying so I knew they were in deep danger.

"I put a coat over my head and went in for the first girl. I got her out and handed her to a fireman.

"I went back in and saw Maureen at the top of the stairs. I told her to get out. I picked up the second child and ran out with her," Mr Whitham said.

"It was just a matter of seconds before they died. That is what makes me feel so proud today."