A MAN'S life was saved by police officers who pulled him from his home as flames swept through the property.

Two officers dragged middle-aged Tim Lovell through the shattered front window of his burning home in Queen Street, South Bank, near Middlesbrough - earning the admiration of firefighters called to the scene.

Marty Challenor, Cleveland Fire Brigade watch manager, stationed at Grangetown, said last night: "The police were first in attendance and managed to drag him half-way through the window. They did very well.''

Neighbourhood officers Keith Robinson and John Seaman were sent to the fire by their control room.

Inspector Lynn Beeston said: "Arriving at the scene, officers became aware that someone was in a downstairs room of the property.

"PC Robinson broke the window with his baton and climbed into the house. PC Seaman then assisted by pulling the man through the broken window to safety."

Acting Superintendent Peter McPhillips said: "I am really impressed by the bravery of these officers, which just reflects what we are trying to achieve with neighbourhood policing, with officers out on the beat in their communities.

"It demonstrates that neighbourhood policing does work."

PC Seaman told The Northern Echo yesterday that he and his colleague did not feel like heroes.

"We did what anyone else would have done. We could clearly see someone lying in the living room," he said.

"The window was already partially broken - we cleared the glass with our batons and climbed in to get him. It did not really seem dangerous."

Firefighters gave Mr Lovell medical aid at the scene before paramedics took him to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough for treatment of the effects of smoke inhalation and observation.

Mr Lovell had thrown a table through the front window of his smoke-filled home in an attempt to escape the blaze, but then collapsed.

Neighbour Ernest Bullock, 42, tried to rescue Mr Lovell, but was beaten back by the fire.

He said: "He was very, very lucky. Everything in the house has completely gone and he has only got the clothes he stands up in."

He said that minutes later it might have been a different story. Mr Lovell had not taken his nightly sleeping pill, when he discovered the fire.

An electric heater in the dining room, around which clothes had been placed to air, was last night being blamed for Friday's fire.

Mr Lovell, who was not contactable yesterday, is staying with his nephew.