Quick thinking neighbours were praised for their "valiant actions" in rescuing a man from his burning house.

Paul Chattaway was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke from a blaze in the sitting room of his home in Templars Way, Fairweather Green last night.

When firefighters from Fairweather Green arrived at the scene he had already been rescued by neighbour Jane Stageman and her partner John Ratnik.

Sub officer John Henson said: "Without their valiant efforts Mr Chattaway might not be with us now."

Mr Chattaway, 48, an HGV driver who was off sick with a badly cut leg, said he had been resting it by the hearth before the fire happened.

"I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I knew the cushion had fallen on the fire and I think I must have blacked out with the smoke. The next think I knew I was in the ambulance." Back at home today he said of his neighbours: "I am very thankful to them both."

Mr Henson said that Mrs Stageman had smelled smoke and gone to investigate, trying to attract Mr Chattaway's attention. "Between them the neighbour and her boyfriend managed to get him out of the house and all three were out when we arrived. We gave Mr Chattaway oxygen, he was very groggy and was taken to Bradford Royal Infimary."

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