PRISON officers who risked their lives pulling a prisoner from a burning cell have been praised by a judge.

The officers at Deerbolt Young Offenders Institute, Barnard Castle, rescued Anthony Thomas Webb, 19, after he set fire to a mattress in his cell.

Webb was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to arson at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Tony Briggs and senior prison staff commended prison officers Bill Hook, Kevin Conlin, John Stoker and Robert Kemp-Ambler for their bravery and quick actions, which prevented a more serious incident.

Webb, who was serving a three year sentence for robbery, started the fire in his cell shortly before midnight on June 12, as a protest against being moved to Deerbolt from Lancaster Farms.

He placed a burning mattress against his cell door but was surprised at how quickly the fire spread and alerted staff using his cell bell.

Mr Hook was on night patrol and quickly called the other officers who came to fight the fire.

As the door was blocked and would not open into the cell, the officers had to remove a panel to allow it open outwards. A hose was pushed through a hole in the door to try to extinguish the fire.

The officers rescued Webb, who was hiding under a blanket in the cell, before continuing to fight the fire.

He was treated for superficial burns in the prison medical centre.

After extinguishing the fire, the officers were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and treated using oxygen.

Michael Calvert, head of activities at Deerbolt, said: "The staff dealt with this situation very professionally and bravely. They put their own lives at risk and rescued a prisoner who would no doubt have died or suffered serious injuries.

"It's a measure of their dedication that they all turned up for work the following morning."

Detective Constable Eamonn Clarke, who was in charge of the case, said: "The real credit needs to go to the prison officers."