A DAD who dragged a woman and her three-year-old daughter from their burning house has admitted his actions made him "a bit of a hero".

Phil Barnes, 29, of Pelham Street, in Daisyfield, Blackburn, was praised by police and firefighters who said he saved the lives of Stacey Bell and her daughter.

A tearful Stacey also spoke of her gratitude but Phil said modestly: "I just hope that if my house is ever on fire and I'm asleep someone will be there to rescue my children."

Stacey, 23, and her daughter -- who she refused to name -- were asleep upstairs at their home in Westwood Court, just around the corner from Phil's house. They were unaware that there was a fire until they heard Phil calling for them around 11pm.

Father-of-four Phil said: "I was having a drink in a neighbour's garden, which backs onto Stacey's house, with some friends.

"My son saw the fire and I jumped over the fence. She came to the window and was saying 'I can't get out, I've lost my door keys'. I shouted for some of the others to get a ladder and call the fire service and went to the front door.

"It took some effort to kick it through -- about four kicks with all my weight.

"It was hard to see in the smoke and I went upstairs and picked the child up and got them out. I suppose I was a bit of a hero."

Phil's heroics then continued as he fetched a bucket of water and put the fire out.

Miss Bell added: "I heard them shouting about a fire and realised it was at my house. I couldn't get out. I was all just a blur. I am so grateful."

Detective Sergeant Mark Evans, of Blackburn CID, said he was waiting for a fire report before he could say if the fire was started maliciously.

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