A MAN was rescued from a burning scrapyard after he tried to rescue two dogs from the flames.

Firefighters managed to drag the man and one of the dogs from the flames at DHQ Motors, Hepburn Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, on Saturday morning.

Forty scrap cars and two large buildings were destroyed in the blaze, which was eventually quelled by five water jets.

Although it is not yet known how the fire started, the explosion of two gas cylinders in the compound helped to spread the flames.

Firefighters said they had to spend 24 hours cooling nearby gas cylinders heated by the fire.

A fire brigade spokeswoman said: "A man in a burning car was found trying to rescue two dogs. He was rescued with one of the dogs, but unfortunately the other dog perished in the fire."