BRAVING thick smoke and intense heat, three men saved the lives of a young mother and her daughter after their house caught fire in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Neighbours Neal Britton, Steve Ealand and Andrew Thain, of South Bank, in Middlesbrough, broke in to the Scarborough Street home when Maxine Conroy woke them up at 3.45am, distraught because her daughter and granddaughter were trapped in the blazing house.

She had already escaped with her son, three-year-old Jordan, but Claire and Leah, two, were still trapped.

The men forced the door open, then broke a window so the frightened pair could escape.

Firemen said if the men had not rescued them, there was a good chance the fire would have resulted in tragedy.

Grangetown Fire Station officer Paul Beeforth said: "Although we were at the scene in less than five minutes, the actions these lads performed saved two lives."

Firefighters believe the fire started when a candle fell onto a living room chair, setting it alight, filling the house with thick, black smoke.

Officer Beeforth said: "We would advise all householders who use candles to ensure they are completely extinguished before going to bed.

"Also the lady had no smoke alarm. If she had, she would have known about this fire much earlier."