PETS rescued from a house fire were given oxygen and CPR by firefighters.

Pictures taken by County Durham Fire and Rescue show Lily the dog fitted with an oxygen mask after the blaze in Craghead, near Stanley, this morning.

They also show firefighters tenderly massaging Kara, the pet cat of the man who lives there, and giving CPR.

Neighbour Sheila Morton said: “I have never seen anything like it. Big strapping lads down on their hands and knees trying to save the cat.

“It was flat on its back, whimpering. They were so gentle and were treating it as if it was a child. You have got to give them their dues.”

The man was out at the time of the fire, which started at around 8am on Wednesday at the mid-terrace house in Wylam Street.

Another neighbour, Emily Elliott, 21, who has a new born baby, said: “There was a loads of smoke coming out of the front room and the top window.”

As well as tackling the fire, the crews rescued the animals and gave them life-saving first aid.

Assistant District Manager for Derwentside Mick Clark said: “Incidents where it’s necessary for crews to offer emergency medical assistance to animals are actually more common than you might think.

“This is part of our role as firefighters and our crews are prepared for this. 

“On this occasion our High Handenhold crew were delighted they could help to save precious family pets after extinguishing the fire successfully.”