A MAN was pulled by police officers from flames which swept through a North-East house.

A passing police patrol dragged the middle aged resident through the shattered front window of his burning home in Queen Street, South Bank, near Middlesbrough - earning the admiration of firefighters called to the scene.

Marty Challenor, Cleveland Fire Brigade watch manager, stationed at Grangetown, said today: "The police were the first in attendance and managed to drag him half way through the window. They did very well.'' Firefighters gave the unnamed resident first aid at the scene before paramedics took him to hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

The man had thrown a table through the front window of his smoke filled house, to escape the blaze but then collapsed.

Friday night's blaze gutted half the rear dining room of the house, and caused 20 per cent heat damage to the rest of the ground floor, 80 per cent of which was smoke logged.

Investigations into the cause of the blaze today centred on an electric heater in the dining room, around which clothes had been placed to air.