A GRANDMOTHER today paid a personal tribute to the heroes who risked their lives to save her after her home began to collapse around her.

Pensioner Joan Nancarrow, 70, was rescued from her bed after a gas explosion in the house next door, in Burns Street, Nelson.

She has never met the emergency crews who saved her but on Tuesday she will be able to thank them personally as they are presented with special commendations and letters of appreciation for their bravery.

Mrs Nancarrow said she was delighted that the ten firefighters from Nelson, three paramedics from Burnley, Nelson and Barnoldswick and a doctor from Nelson Health Centre were being officially honoured for saving the lives of herself and her neighbour, who was trapped in his wheelchair.

She said: "I was in the dark at the time so it will be nice to finally put a face to them. Everything was such a blur and I didn't honestly know what happened until later.

"If I'd realised at the time that they were risking their lives for me I would have been devastated. I am so grateful to them all. I know it would have been worse if they hadn't got there for me. They are my heroes."

One house, which was split in to two flats was destroyed by the gas explosion on Saturday, May 11 and Mrs Nancarrow's connecting council house was so badly damaged it also had to be demolished.

Her husband Dennis, 75, saw the devastation as he returned home after walking the dog. The couple now live in Lloyd Close, in Nelson.

A disabled man was rescued from the downstairs flat after becoming trapped in his wheelchair as he was having a wash.

John Taylor, a spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Emergency crews arriving on the scene of this gas explosion feared the worst for the occupants.

"Taking steps to turn off the gas supply to the street and conscious of the dangers of further masonry collapse from the damaged structures, firefighters began to dig in to the rubble of both houses, soon encouraged by cries from beneath the remains of the house divided in to flats that someone had survived."

The man, Thomas Root, was freed and taken to hospital and a retained crew of firefighters pulled Mrs Nancarrow to safety.