Richard Allan saved the lives of two young girls by catching them as they threw themselves from the upstairs window of a blazing house.

Rachel Ward, ten, and Sherridene Hodder, ten, might have died but for the safe arms of Mr Allan, 27.

He stood below the bathroom window of the house in Washington, Wearside, shouting encouragement.

As each girl dropped 20ft towards him, he managed to catch them.

The youngsters hailed him their hero yesterday, having escaped unharmed.

Fire broke out in mother Kelly Hodder's home, in the Barmston district of the town, endangering her and her three children, Sherridene, Elisha, eight, and Dylan, two.

Ms Hodder rescued Elisha and Dylan, but Sherridene and her friend, Rachel, were trapped upstairs.

Ms Hodder was being treated in Sunderland Royal Hospital yesterday, while the girls were cared for by relatives.

Mr Allan said: "I managed to get one of the girls to jump and caught her, but the other was too frightened.

"She was standing on the ledge screaming and crying out for help.

"Her mum ran back into the house to get the little boy and gave her a shove from behind - it was the only way to get her out.

"As she fell, flames shot out of the window behind her. I caught her, but it was a very close call."

Sherridene said: "He was brilliant, and he's a hero."

The cause of the blaze, which took 14 firefighters two hours to control, is under investigation.