A YOUNG boy has been hailed a hero after he came to the aid of his brother and a friend after an explosion.

Details of the incident still remain sketchy, but it is thought fumes from a tin of cellulose thinner ignited in a shed.

David Corley, 12, was upstairs when the incident happened at his home in Stockdale Road, Dormanstown, east Cleveland.

Michael McCorry, 12, was burned from head to toe, and remained in a stable condition in hospital last night, while David's younger brother Christopher, eight, suffered burns to his face.

Back at home yesterday, David was recovering from the shock of the horrific accident.

"I heard Michael screaming and shouting and I put some water over him because he was on fire," he said.

"I didn't know what to do, but it just came into my head to chuck some water on him."

Christopher was expected to remain in hospital for a few days but was discharged yesterday, having undergone plastic surgery.

He has minor facial burns, but his parents say there is little chance of it scarring.

The boys' mother, Heather Helm, 33, said David had been "a little hero" and described the incident as a "shocking accident".

She had left for work five minutes earlier, and the boys were getting ready to go their grandmother's.

"I've told them about accident prevention, especially at this time of year with Bonfire Night," she said.

She thanked the emergency services and neighbours Paul Pitt and Alison Burniston, who were first on the scene and helped the three traumatised boys.

Assistant divisional officer Andy Witham said fire brigade investigators were waiting to talk to Michael, as they attempt to piece together exactly what happened in the shed.

Mr Witham said: "At the moment we are still gathering information.

"Until we get to talk to him we are unable to ascertain what happened.''

He said a tin of thinner was involved, and had somehow ignited.

By last night, Michael had been moved from the intensive care unit at Middlesbrough General Hospital