A NEIGHBOUR has been praised after he pulled a burning firework from a young family's letterbox and smothered the flames with his hands.

Terry Brookes, a 52-year-old security guard, came to the rescue after neighbours spotted 'lights' coming from the ground floor flat of 20-year-old Emma Burton, and her three-year-old daughter Madeleine, in Ham Drive at 6pm on Thursday.

The 'lights' turned out to be a lit firework that had been rammed in the letterbox, police say.

As flames licked up the back of the door towards gas pipes above, and catching a curtain alight, Mr Brookes pulled out the firework, smashed in the reinforced door glass using his shoulder and ripped the burning fabric from inside.

He then put out the remaining flames with his gloved hands and dashed into the house in a desperate effort to find the mother and daughter.

He said: "My main concern was that the little girl and her mum weren't inside."

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Fortunately they weren't as they were out for the night and were safe and sound, but fire crews said if it wasn't for Mr Brookes' quick actions the whole house would have gone up due to the gas pipes above the door.

Emma said: "I felt sick when I got the call saying the house was on fire and then when I heard it was a firework – what if my little girl had been walking along the corridor?

"I'm very, very, very appreciative for what Terry has done. If he hadn't then I think within minutes we might not have had a home."

Mr Brookes said: "It was nothing. All I did was put a window through and I'm a bit embarrassed about the fuss. I'm just relieved they weren't inside."

His father-in-law John Walters, who lives next door to the family, said: "He never panics, he was in there like a shot, there was no hesitation. It was a big relief to everyone that they weren't inside."

Mr Brookes' boss Sally Perdrisat, manager of the Pannier Market, also got in touch with The Herald to say how proud she was.

She said: "I'm not at all surprised by what he did. He's a very quiet, self-effacing man who always deals with difficult situations in a very calm, professional manner.

"He's my rock and I depend on him totally. He's absolutely perfect for the job he does here."

A fire crew from Camels Head attended the scene to finish putting out the smouldering door.

Watch manager Nigel Toms said: "The neighbour acted quickly. Fireworks are lethal and used incorrectly can kill."

Police are investigating the incident as arson and are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on 08452 777444 quoting EC 829 301008.