CHARITY workers have praised the actions of a quick-thinking Fylde disabled teenager who alerted his family and neighbours to an early morning blaze.

David Gardener, 14, of Village Way, Bispham, crawled to alert his sleeping parents - Debbie and David - after hearing an explosion at around 3.30am on Saturday, April 24.

David - who suffers from cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair - insisted his mum and dad check the street only to find flames coming from a skip close to neighbouring houses and cars.

They alerted neighbours as the youngster - who has a twin brother, Andrew - attempted to call the emergency services using a special Dynavox vocal apparatus.

Within minutes firefighters arrived at the scene and spent half an hour tackling the fire which destroyed the skip.

Mary Cannon, a spokeswoman for the Fylde branch of disabled support service charity - Leonard Cheshire UK - has supported David and his family from the age of six. Mary said: "David is a very special young man and a favourite among many members of staff.

"We're very proud but not at all surprised at his brave actions.

"He was the only person who heard anything that night and, if he hadn't acted as quickly as he did, no doubt people's lives and homes would have been in serious danger.

"It just goes to show how capable and alert David is.

"He wasn't afraid to act independently in a very serious situation and he is a credit to his mum and dad."

Management at Blackpool's Odeon cinema - where film fan David spends most of his spare time - have since rewarded the Highfurlong School pupil with a pair of free cinema tickets and refreshments for his quick thinking.

Proud mum Debbie, 41, said: "We've always encouraged David to think and act for himself and it looks like it has paid off.

"People often assume that his condition is mental as well as physical but his actions the other night proves this is not the case.

"He came across a potentially dangerous situation and acted as responsibly as any able-bodied teenager or adult.

"David is a very special young man and we're proud to have him in our lives."