Neighbours ran to rescue a trapped family whose house was engulfed in flames at the weekend.

Keighley firefighters were called out at 2am on Sunday after john Hesketh rang to tell them of a neighbour's blazing house in Guardhouse Avenue, Braithwaite, Keighley.

Mr Hesketh, Patrick Griffin, his girlfriend Jess Gill and Mark Astin dashed to the aid of the trapped family after seeing smoke and flames billowing from the windows of their house.

Tommy Paton, 39, was yesterday described as being in a 'comfortable' condition in Faz-akerley Hospital, Liverpool, after being found unconscious by firemen on his living room floor. After being taken to Airedale Hospital, he was immediately transferred to Liverpool's Murray Hospital and then the city's Fazakerley Hospital. He was treated for serious burns to his forehead and hands.

His 39-year-old wife Julie and 12-year-old-son Daniel were helped out of an upstairs bedroom window by the neighbours after Mrs Paton hurled her son's Sony Playstation through the window to smash the glass. Staying with Daniel was his friend Daniel Barrett, 12, who was also rescued by the neighbours.

All three were rushed to Airedale Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, shock and cuts. They were later released.

Mr Hesketh, 62, says: "We were in bed when we suddenly smelled the smoke. At first we thought our house was on fire.

"But when we couldn't see any flames I looked outside and heard someone screaming 'Help! help! I can't find Tommy'. I immediately rang for the fire brigade after seeing the smoke and the house on fire. then I grabbed my ladder, ran to the house and leaned it against its wall so I could climb up to where Julie and the two boys were.

"Other neighbours came across to help and Mr Griffin climbed up the ladder first to the bedroom window. He helped the family out of the smashed window and passed them down to where I was standing, half-way down the ladder. I helped them down to Mark and the other two on the ground who gave them clothes and blankets.

"The firemen had to bring Tommy round before they could get him out of the house. He was in a bad way.

"I think anyone would have done what we did, but there was no way we could have got inside that burning home."

Mr Astin says: "I woke up to the sound of banging outside and thought someone was up to no good. But when I looked out of the window I saw thick black smoke coming from across the road and immediately shouted 'Fire!' I went across to the fire and met up with John, his wife, Patrick and Jess."

He says the family were given blankets when they came down the ladder out of the blazing house. "The lads were only wearing their boxer shorts and it was a cold night," he says.

"The cat scampered away into the distance and I don't know if anyone has seen it since.

"The fire brigade then arrived and they found Tommy in the living room. We saw him walk out of the house and thought he wasn't so bad. But obviously he was and I really hope he fully recovers.

"I'm just glad I could do something to help."

The cause of the fire has been put down to a chip pan. Keighley Fire Service Sub Officer Eddie Presland says: "Time and again we have told people not to leave chip pans unattended and to check smoke detectors are in order.

"But all the neighbours did a great job getting the family out of the house and we are very grateful to them. I shall speak to my officers about giving them some sort of commendation."

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