TWO men were today hailed lifesavers after dragging a semi-conscious man from a burning house.

Ahmed Rauf, 31, and Fazel Chothia, 40, forced their way into the blazing home in Mulberry Walk, Blackburn, where they found Jason Gilfeathers semi-conscious and dragged him to safety.

Fire chiefs today called for the duo's bravery to be rewarded after their dawn heroics.

And Mr Gilfeathers' grateful mum Heather Knowles said: "They are lifesavers and it just shows what this community is all about."

But Mr Chothia, who lives a few doors away, played down their actions and said: "You are a waste of space if you cannot help your neighbours.

The fire, believed to have been caused by a chip pan, broke out at 6am yesterday.

Mr Chothia said: "I went into the house with my son Haashim and saw his (Mr Gilfeather's) mum who I told to get out.

"Then other neighbours including Ahmed came to help.

"We couldn't get in to the living room as the smoke was too thick. But I stood keeping the door open when Ahmed went to get a towel and helped carry him out the house."

Mr Rauf, who lives in nearby Chestnut Walk, said they went into the house after one person who had managed to escape ran down the street screaming for help.

He said: "I tried to break down the living room door but at first couldn't get in as the place was just full of smoke. So I went to the downstairs bathroom and grabbed a towel which I covered my face with.

"I was able to get in and pull him out and with the help of Fazel and other neighbours carried him out of the house. He was hardly breathing and I gave him mouth to mouth before the fire brigade came."

He added: "We just did what anyone would do. This is a close community and I was just being a good neighbour."

Both men were treated for moderate smoke inhalation at hospital but were soon released.

Relatives said 32-year-old Mr Gilfeathers, who suffered severe smoke inhalation, was in "a stable" condition at Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was expected to remain last night.

Blackburn Fire Station watch manager Andy Barnes said: "We were called after an other occupant of the house was woken by a smoke alarm and were there within five minutes.

"But this was a severe fire and these two neighbours are definitely lifesavers.

"When you have such large amounts of toxic smoke the survival time can be measured in a matter of minutes."

Investigations confirmed an unattended chip pan caused the blaze which severely damaged the downstairs of the property.