A TEENAGER has been praised for his quick-thinking, which may have saved a man's life.

Fourteen-year-old Iain Robinson was walking past a bungalow in Spurn Walk, Hartlepool, on Monday evening, when he heard the smoke alarm going off.

As he approached the building he noticed the windows were becoming cloudy and black, so he opened the letterbox, at which point, smoke filtered out.

Iain, who has been having fire safety lessons at school, put what he was taught into practice and tried the door handle with the back of his hand.

The handle was getting hot so Iain, who lives in the same road, rushed home to dial 999.

He said: "I didn't really think about what I was doing, I just knew I needed to help.

"I carried out the tips I had been taught at school and waited for the fire brigade to arrive."

It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault in an extractor fan. At the time of the incident the occupant had fallen asleep and had not heard the alarm.

Alan Gill, assistant divisional officer and fire brigade spokesman said: "We applaud his actions. It was exactly the right thing to do and we would appeal to people to follow his example.

"The occupant of the house was unconscious on the settee at the time of the incident and had not heard the alarm. Without Ian's quick response he may not be alive now.

"He should be very proud of himself."

Iain, who is unfazed by his heroic actions, now has plans to become a fire officer when he is older.

He said: "I had never thought about joining the fire brigade before but now I think I would like to. What I did feels good, but I just had to do what I could to help."

His mother Fiona said: "Both me and his dad are very proud of him. It just goes to show that they do take things on board at school and this time it has possibly helped to save somebody's life."