TWO council officers will be presented with an award on Monday for their bravery in preventing a fire at a house in Stockton.

Sue Steer and Helen Wilson, care call officers at Stockton Borough Council, were on duty on Monday when they received a smoke alarm signal from a house in the town's Dinsdale Road.

There was no response from the occupier and, after contacting the emergency services, the pair went to the property, where they saw a pan burning on the cooker and smoke coming out of an open kitchen window.

Ms Steer decided to climb through the window, took the pan off the heat and checked the rest of the house, which was unoccupied.

A spokesman for he council, said: "Their actions were very brave and not only did they save the property, but they also saved the time and effort of the emergency services."