AN Ainsworth chef risked his life to avert a major catastrophe when he ran into the burning kitchen of a neighbour's house.

Shy hero Mr John Smith entered a smoke and flame-filled kitchen at a house in Edgworth Avenue, Ainsworth, to turn off the gas and electricity supplies. Burning gas was spewing from a ruptured cooker connection pipe creating a huge flame.

Mr Smith also attempted to fight the fire before two crews of firefighters arrived to take over at lunchtime on Monday (Jan 15).

Station Officer Paul Myerscough said: "If it were not for his actions we could have faced a much fiercer fire and the possibility of a gas explosion. He is a very brave man."

However, the 39-year-old father-of-two played down the praise and said he did what anyone would have done.

"To say I am a hero is a bit over the top," said Mr Smith. "The owner of the house was in a terrible state and I just did what was necessary to protect her home.

"The kitchen was full of thick smoke and the flames were shooting up a wall. But I didn't think the situation was life threatening."

The drama happened at lunchtime when neighbour and mother-of-two Mrs Patricia Hakin mistakenly turned on the grill pan rather than the oven as she prepared lunch.

The fire was contained to the kitchen with other rooms being smoke damaged.

Mrs Hakin was treated at the scene for shock.