A mother who carried her children to safety from a blazing home, has been praised by a fire chief.

The woman was putting her baby to bed when she became aware of a fire on the first floor landing of her house in Abindon Road, Middlesbrough.

She grabbed her baby and her five-year-old son by the hand and escaped

"She did a fantastic job, confronted by the flames and smoke,'' said Middlesbrough Station Officer Ron Carr.

There was severe fire, heat and smoke damage to the first floor of the house which had a smoke detector fitted to the ground floor.

Mr Carr said had a second smoke alarm been fitted to the first floor, the family would have had earlier warning of the fire.

The fire started at about 9.20pm on Wednesday and firefighters had it under control by 10pm.

A Red Cross crisis unit helped the family until alternative accommodation could be found.

Fire officers are warning householders to have smoke detectors fitted and ensure they are tested regularly.