THREE builders were today hailed heroes after racing into a burning house to rescue an 84-year-old man.

The actions of the brave men undoubtedly saved the life of pensioner Joseph Walmsley, police said.

His emotional daughter Brenda paid tribute to the men and said her bed-ridden father would have been trapped' without their help.

Meanwhile a firefighter said the damage to the house could have been much worse had one of the men not closed the inside doors during their rescue.

Lee Moss, Oliver Pedley and Paul Wright came to the aid of pensioner Mr Walmsley after spotting smoke coming from his Buttermere Close, Blackburn home yesterday afternoon.

A fire had started in a refrigerator and quickly engulfed the kitchen and filled the house with smoke, at about 3.25pm.

Mr Walsmley's wife Ellen and daughter Brenda managed to get out of the house but the pensioner could not be moved.

Lee Moss, 34, led the rescue effort. He said: "There were lots of people standing around. The owner of the house was hysterical, she said her husband was up there.

"As soon as I knew there was somebody in there I flew straight upstairs.

"I hauled him up out of the bed and carried him downstairs. I checked all the rooms and then shut all the doors.

"I didn't think about it at the time. I just ran straight in. It was only afterwards when we were being told we had saved his life that it sank in."

The blaze was spotted by one of his colleagues from Herbert T Forrest builders in Longridge, 17-year-old Oliver Pedley.

Paul Wright, 26 followed them into the house and grabbed the OAP's wheelchair.

Today Mr Walmsley's daughter thanked the men, who were renovating homes in the area, for their "good turn".

The 48-year-old, of Florence Street, said: "They saved his life. We couldn't have got him down, he would have been trapped up there. We are very thankful."

She said she heard a bang and ran downstairs to call 999 to rescue her father.

Sgt Stuart Roberts of Blackburn police said: "It is nice to see that there are still people willing to risk their own safety for others.

"They have saved his life.

"The combination of Lee's actions and a smoke detector being fitted in the premises has prevented a serious incident being a tragedy, there is no doubt about that."

Crew manager Steve Williams of Blackburn Fire Station said: "I give every credit to that guy for going in and getting him. He did a sterling job. He was without a doubt a hero.

"The smoke alarm raised the alarm to the occupants and was instrumental in getting them out the premises."

The fire was "well developed" and had started in the refrigerator.

The kitchen was severely damaged by fire and smoke while the hall and lounge were slightly damaged by smoke, he said.

Crew manager Williams said: "The damage was limited because of the efforts of the individual to close the doors on the way out of the house."