FIREFIGHTERS have rescued an elderly man from his burning home in north Herefordshire.

Crews from Leominster and Tenbury Wells were called to a house fire in Leysters on Tuesday evening.

Officers broke down the front door to rescue the owner, who was found unconscious in the kitchen.

But he owes his life to both stations – two firefighting cousins from Tenbury brought him out, while Leominster officers had, just a few months before, installed the fire alarms that alerted neighbours.

Alec Mackie, fire service press officer, praised the man’s neighbours and the efforts of the fire safety team.

“This was a fantastic rescue and the two cousins played a major part,” he said.

“But the working fire alarms were equally important, as they alerted the people living nearby who were able to call the fire brigade.”

The owner, believed to be a former pilot in his 70s, was taken to Hereford County Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire was confined to the kitchen and started after food on an unattended hob caught alight. Two pumps from Tenbury and another from Leominster attended after neighbours raised the alarm at 6.30pm.

Tenbury retained firefighters, Ashley and Dan James, donned breathing equipment before rescuing the man.

The former played down their role in the rescue, but admitted their timing was crucial.

“It could have been a very nasty situation,” he said. “We were told by the ambulance crew there was an elderly man in there, so we put on our breathing equipment and went in.”