DETECTIVES and firefighters are appealing for the "quiet hero" who saved the lives of a woman and her five-year-old daughter to come forward.

Firefighters believe the man deserves commendation for his actions at the Darlington home early on Sunday morning, where a fire is believed to have been started deliberately.

It is thought burning newspapers were pushed through the letterbox of the house in Headlam Road, in the Lascelles area, shortly before 2.45am, while the woman, in her twenties, and the child, were sleeping.

Firefighters were called and rushed to the scene, but the man had carried out his rescue by the time they arrived. By the time police were on the scene he had left. Station officer Dave Turnbull, of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, said there had been no smoke alarm in the house to alert occupants of the danger.

He said: "They have been extremely fortunate that someone outside of the property has noticed the fire, especially at quarter to three in the morning.

"Obviously, the person who got them out is to be commended for his actions. The fact that somebody has noticed the house is on fire has saved their lives." He said that any person convicted of an arson of this nature could face a life jail sentence.

Detective Sergeant Ian McGarley, of Darlington CID, said the only description of the man who made the rescue was that he wore a short-sleeved dark shirt and dark trousers.

"He's a bit of a quiet hero in a way," he said, adding the woman and child were fit and well, having been treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Mr Turnbull urged members of the public to give themselves the extra chance of surviving fires by installing a smoke alarm.

He said adults were four times more likely to die in a house fire when there was no smoke alarm fitted, and for children it was six times as likely.

Anybody who has any information, either about the fire or about the mystery hero, is urged to contact Darlington police, on (01325) 467681, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.