AN 11-YEAR-OLD who was commended for his bravery by firefighters has been nominated for our Child of Courage Award.

The award is one of 11 which are aimed at highlighting the good deeds of individuals and organisations throughout East Lancashire.

Jonathan Hogan, who has been nominated by his dad Nick, 37, became a local hero when he risked his own life to save a pensioner from a burning house.

The schoolboy was on a bike ride in May when he saw smoke billowing from a house in Blackburn Road, Rising Bridge.

Jonathan said: "I heard a man shouting and knew I had to do something. I just wanted to save him, but I was a little bit scared."

The pupil at St Gabriel's High School in Bury went into the house and saw that the kitchen was ablaze. A man in his 60s was standing near the front of the house and Jonathan led him through the smoke and outside to safety.

The kitchen was gutted by the fire but because of Jonathan's heroics the man only suffered the effects of smoke inhalation.

Nick, who runs the Holden Arms, Grane Road, Haslingden, said: "He did tremendously and I am so very very proud of him.

"I think these days kids get a lot of bad press and it's nice to see there are positive sides about youths. I think that anything that helps to promote children or teenagers in a better light has to be good. Too often they get slapped down and I think it is fantastic that the Lancashire Evening Telegraph is rewarding kids in this way."

At the time of the incident Sub-officer Steve Harrison, of Accrington fire station, said: "Jonathan did a sterling job, although we don't advise people to go into burning buildings. But this was a very brave thing to do."

John Taylor, spokesman for Lancashire Fire Service, said: "Professional firefighters build up experience of situations but they are equipped with the right sort of protective gear.

"They know better than anyone what it would be like to face that sort of situation without the gear, training or experience and frankly it would terrify most of us.

"It shows how magnificent it is when someone unaccustomed to that just walks in."