NEIGHBOURS have been praised after they rescued a woman trapped in her blazing home on Sunday morning.

Firefighters then rescued a man from the house at South View Terrace at Annfield Plain, near Stanley,.

The couple involved are also grateful to their pet dog Penny, who woke them and gave them a chance to escape. The dog was also rescued by firefighters.

Both husband and wife Ken and June Dixon, who are in their fifties, were taken to Durham City's new University Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but later returned home.

Assistant divisional officer at County Durham fire brigade Ian Dockerty praised neighbour Ken Dodds and said he would be mentioning his actions to senior officers. He said: "The neighbours got a ladder and saved Mrs Dixon from an upstairs window.

"We are chuffed to bits with their brave actions. They may have saved a life."

The fire started in a portable television in the kitchen and spread through the house. Firefighters entered the house to save Penny, a white shitzu, whose coat was left blackened. The brigade administered oxygen to the dog, which had been in the kitchen.

They also checked on a 100-year-old woman who lived next door.

Mrs Dixon raised the alarm by throwing objects at a neighbour's house from her bathroom window. Later a policeman broke his truncheon smashing through double glazed, strengthened glass.

Mr and Mrs Dixon called in on their neighbours to thank them.

Mr Dixon said: "If it wasn't for Penny, our dog, I dread to think what would have happened. I can't thank our neighbours enough. I will be forever in their, and especially Kenny Dodds, debt."

Mr Dockerty used the opportunity to warn the public of the risks of not turning off electrical appliances at the plug and not having a smoke alarm.