FIREFIGHTERS called to a blaze at a nursing home feared they would be unable to attend the funeral of a former fire chief.

But after helping evacuate 42 pensioners - two of whom had to be taken to hospital - and spending several hours damping down the flames, they were still able to pay their last respects.

By a strange coincidence, the funeral of former Cleveland Fire Brigade Assistant Chief Officer George Mudd was taking place at St Peter's Church - directly across the road from the St David's Nursing Home, in Redcar Lane, Redcar, east Cleveland.

Sixty firefighters spent several hours tackling the blaze, but afterwards remained to remember their colleague by standing to attention along the road as his coffin was borne into the church for the 10am service.

A brigade spokesman said: "There were fears that firefighters who wanted to attend the funeral may not have been able to pay their respects, had the fire not been across the road from the church."

An alarm system in the BUPA-run home alerted the brigade to the blaze as residents slept at 5am yesterday.

Firefighters worked with members of the public to help evacuate the residents, some of whom were bed-ridden, and four members of staff.

A woman in her eighties was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital with serious burns.

An elderly man was also treated for smoke inhalation.

The remaining residents were led to safety and sheltered in the nearby Plimsoll Line pub, until they could be moved to two other nearby care homes.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.

Andy Baxter, 23, from nearby Redcar Lane, was one of those who jumped out of bed to help carry some of the residents to safety.

"It was a really bad fire," he said. "The flames were flying out of the roof."

Divisional Officer Mike Picknett, who was in charge of the firefighting operation, said: "Firefighters were working in very hot conditions with zero visibility. It may be a couple of days before we know how the blaze started."

The fire, which broke out in a newer extension, left the building severely damaged.

Mark Whelan, director of operations and community safety, who took over from Mr Mudd, said: "This is a very poignant day, made even more so by the fire this morning.

"If George had been alive, he would have been in charge of this operation.

"I cannot help but think that he was looking down on us with a smile on his face today."

Mr Mudd, who died aged 49, rose through the ranks after starting as a firefighter at the Redcar station. He retired through ill health in 2002.