A neighbour saved an 82-year-old pensioner from a fire which had engulfed her home in smoke as she slept.

Builder Andrew Tinnins rescued pensioner Stella Richards from a house in Sedgley.

He threw water on the fire and then tried to battle through the smoke to rescue Mrs Richards, her two dogs and a parrot who were trapped inside.

Fire crews from Dudley used breathing apparatus to rescue the pets.

Father-of-two Mr Tinnins said: “I dread to think what would have happened if I was five minutes later, she would have been coming out on a stretcher not walking.”

The 42-year-old was out fixing his garage roof when he noticed smoke pouring out the chimney of the house next door where Mrs Richards lives with her son, and rushed round.

Mrs Richards tried to open her front door to escape but couldn’t unlock it. Mr Tinnins, who was left with a sore throat from smoke inhalation, directed her to walk through the smoke-filled kitchen and open a side door where he rushed her to the safety of his own home.

Mrs Richards said: “I can’t remember much except Andrew banging on the window. I’d like to thank him very much.”