TWO heroic police officers have told how they saved two men from burning to death in a ferocious house fire.

PCs Philip Nixon and Alan Freeman were on mobile patrol when they responded to the blaze in Consett, County Durham.

When the officers arrived at the mid-terraced house in Knitsley Gardens it was well ablaze with thick black smoke billowing from the windows.

They were told two people were still inside and both officers went in through the rear kitchen to search the burning building.

PC Freeman, 42, who is a married father-of-one, said: “The flames were five or six foot high.

“We both went in and as I pulled one of the lads out and he shouted ‘me mate’. Through the smoke we could just see another person in the sitting room on the couch so Philip has gone to get him. Amazingly, he was reluctant to come so he had to wrestle him out.

“The heat and the smoke was unbelievable, but I did a quick sweep to make sure no-one else in the room then got out and the fire brigade arrived.”

Both officers suffered the effects of smoke inhalation and were given oxygen by firefighters at the scene until paramedics arrived and gave them medical attention.

PC Freeman said: “It all happened that quickly, but when the job is in front of you that is what you do.

“You know have to get in and save those people and in the back of your mind you are thinking what if it was my family?”

The officers have been presented with an award from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire and are nominated for a National Police Bravery Award.

They will be attending the ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel in London on July 13.

PC Nixon, 54, who is married with two daughters, said: “If somebody is trapped and you step back and leave it then who knows what is going to happen? The training kicks in and you do what you have to do. As far I am concerned I was just doing my job and I did what I had to do. I did not think anything would could of it but I am very appreciative.”

A fire investigation later established that the cause of the fire, which was in early evening of December 9, 2015, was the over-loading of electrical sockets in the living room.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Orford, said: “Alan and Phillip did not initially fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation they faced but acted with the utmost professionalism and courage to rescue the two men.

“They fulfilled one of the primary duties of a constable, to protect life.

Everyday officers risk their lives running towards danger rather than away from it and I am immensely proud of their actions.”

“As a result of their actions, bravery demonstrated by them in rescuing others from a potentially fatal situation.”