Cousins race into smoke to save children

Gary, David and Michael Barker leapt into action when they saw thick, black smoke spilling out of an upstairs bedroom of the house in St Helen Auckland, County Durham, on Wednesday, while the children slept in the rooms next door.

The cousins, and the children's mother, Elaine Webb, 29, fought through the smoke and managed to grab Stacey, 12, John-Ashley, seven, and Shellby, three.

Labourer Gary, 20, of Bylands Close, St Helen Auckland, was first to spot the flames, at 11.20pm, as he went upstairs to the toilet.

He said: "As I went upstairs I could just see it was full of smoke. I shouted down to David and his brother, and we ran around all the bedrooms.

"We just couldn't see anything at all. We were patting about on the bed and shouting for them. The only thing I could think was to try and get the kids out.

"The firefighters said if we hadn't got them out then they wouldn't have made it."

Last night, Assistant Divisional Officer and District Commander of Newton Aycliffe Fire Station, David Salmon, praised their speedy response.

"Their actions in alerting and removing the children from the property probably saved their lives," he said.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze which destroyed all the children's Christmas presents and destroyed most of the house in Fountain Square.

Single mother Elaine, who had managed to grab her son before the blaze spread, said: "If it wasn't for the lads they wouldn't be alive. They're heroes."

The family faces a bleak Christmas with £300 worth of toys ruined, and most furniture and possessions, which were not insured, destroyed.

"I don't know what we'll do about Christmas," she said.

Elaine and the children spent the night in Bishop Auckland General Hospital, where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters warned about the importance of fitting smoke alarms. Anyone needing fire safety advice should ring 0191-384-531 or their local fire station.