A 22-YEAR-OLD man died and his younger brother leapt for his life when fire swept through their home yesterday.

Firefighters with thermal image cameras found the older brother's body on the ground floor of his house in Stockton.

Earlier, his 18-year-old brother had jumped from an upstairs window of their detached four-bedroom home.

Cleveland firefighters were called to the blaze in Surbiton Road, Fairfield, at 4.25am.

On arrival, they found the teenager being cared for by neighbours.

Six firefighters with breathing equipment and cameras searched the building and found the body.

The brothers, who have not been named, are thought to have been the only people in the house.

The 18-year-old was taken to North Tees University Hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

He was kept in overnight for observation and is said to be recovering.

A joint investigation by Cleveland fire brigade and the police is under way into the blaze, which is believed to have started of the ground floor of the house.

Four appliances and a hydraulic platform were used to tackle the blaze, which left the house severely damaged.

Tony Marwood, group manager at Cleveland fire brigade, said: "We would like to express our sympathies with the family in this tragic accident.

"Our fire officers were confronted with a fire that was very well alight. It was a severe fire with flames visible from the window and roof.

"Our fire officers gained entry though the front door and it was later that they found the body."

The two men had recently moved in to the house, which they shared with their mother, who is thought to have been out at the time.

Neighbours were woken by shouting at about 4.30am.

One woman, who lives two doors away, said: "The fire was so bad we thought the next door house was going to go up as well.

"It was beginning to blacken when the fire brigade came. We ended up getting our children out to be safe.

"It seemed the fire started in the kitchen area, that's where the fire was worst.

"I've never seen a fire like that and I don't ever want to see one again."

A man, who lives across the road, said: "When I was woken up and looked out of the window, the house seemed well away and I'm not sure what we could have done.

"I don't really know the people who live there. They moved in a while ago, but they seem nice."