A relaxing aromatherapy candle almost cost a five-year-old girl her life after it set fire to her bedroom as she slept.

Firefighters said Courtney Waters only escaped death thanks to the quick reactions of neighbour Jason Hawes.

The 25-year-old hero burst into the youngster's house in Edward Turner Close, Low Moor, when he spotted smoke bellowing from an upstairs window.

He startled Courtney's mother Hayley, who was oblivious to her daughter's plight and was sitting downstairs with her cousin John Devereux and her three-year-old son Kailon.

Mr Hawes, a mechanic, and Mr Devereux rushed upstairs and rescued Courtney before fleeing the burning terraced flat.

Firefighters spent two hours battling the blaze after Mr Hawes' girlfriend Lisa Walker raised the alarm at around 10pm last night.

Speaking from her mother's home today Miss Waters, 30, said: "All I can say is thank you to Jason and Lisa. My house could have burned down and my daughter could be dead if it wasn't for them. I'm very grateful to both of them."

Miss Waters said the top floor of her home was destroyed but her children, including 12-year-old Keeley who was playing with friends, their two pets cats Mary and Milky and Buster the dog escaped without injury.

Mr Hawes said: "Lisa and I had just pulled up in the car park when we saw smoke coming from the windows.

"I started banging on the door and then I thought 'to hell with this' and just went straight in and shouted that there was a fire. John ran upstairs and got Courtney.

"I went to check the other bedroom and the door was in flames. It was too hot and I had to back off. I'm just glad we saw the smoke otherwise it could have been a lot worse."

Station officer Jim Hutton, of Odsal fire station, said: "When we got there, there were flames coming out of an upstairs window.

"The fire was only in one room, and the two adults and another child were downstairs.

"The neighbour did well and we would like to do something for him, but he doesn't want a fuss making."

Station Officer Hutton said the family had a lucky escape and urged anyone in the Odsal area concerned about fire risk to contact the station for a free home safety check on (01274) 677916.