FIRE chiefs have praised the bravery of neighbours who rescued two people from the first-floor window of a blazing house early this morning (Sunday, June 21), before firefighters arrived to rescue a third.

Brothers Lee and Craig Coils sprang into action when they noticed a fire at the back door of the house in Melrose Crescent, Seaham, after midnight.

As neighbours poured into the street from their homes to help, the brother used a borrowed ladder to reach the trapped occupants.

Lee Coils, 26, said: “We were outside the back of my house relaxing when we saw the fire going off.

“We ran to help. We knew there were twins living with their parents in the house next door to fire and woke them up to get them out.

“We shouted at the people in the burning house, but they couldn't get the door open.

“Then somebody brought a ladder and I climbed up as my brother tried to kick in the door. I helped two men out of the first floor bedroom window and down the ladder.”

At that point the fire fire brigade arrived and took over the rescue and helped a woman to safety.

He added: “It was nice to see the street get together and help out. Everybody was there to help each other and played their part.

“My brother and I didn’t have a second thought about helping. I would like to think if it was me in trouble someone else would do exactly the same.”

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue group manager John Walkden said: “We were alerted to the fire at about 20 minutes past midnight.

“A fire had started outside and spread to the kitchen. We sent three appliances to the scene – two from Seaham and one from one from Peterlee.

“On arrival the neighbours had managed to assist two people from the first floor of the property using one of their own ladders."

Firefighters then rescued the woman.

Mr Walkden added: “We have to praise the very brave actions of the neighbours. They were quick-thinking getting the ladder to the first-floor window and rescuing the two people.”

Four breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire and the woman was taken to the Sunderland Royal Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.