FIREFIGHTERS today praised the bravery of a mum who rescued her two children from their blazing home and the actions of a nine-year-old boy who called an ambulance.

The woman is thought to have smashed a window at the house, in Abraham Street, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, and pulled her two young children to safety after fire gutted the house at 8.42am.

Neighbours Alan and Margaret Pickin called the fire brigade and went to look for the woman after seeing smoke.

Their grandson Jordan, nine, called the ambulance when he saw the family sitting on the pavement. The trio were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering cuts, bruises and the effects of smoke inhalation. The fire brigade has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Mrs Pickin 55, said: "We called the fire brigade then all got out of the house. I saw the lady sitting there with the two little boys. They were all black from the smoke and she was bleeding. Jordan brought the cordless phone outside and dialled 999.

Station officer Dave Allan said: "This was a serious house fire and the woman did a tremendous job."