A MOTHER who raced into a burning house several times to rescue her three children has been praised by a fire chief and coroner.

An inquest heard that, despite his mother's frantic efforts to save him, Mobeen Ahmed, aged nine, died after the fire at his Bolton home last November.

Mobeen, who was severely autistic, is believed to have accidentally started the blaze at his home in Bury New Road.

His mother, Nargis Ahmed, aged 34, had been out for only a few minutes, but returned to find smoke seeping from the rear of the terraced house. She and a police officer raced in to rescue the three boys, who had been left on their own while Mrs Ahmed popped to her mother's house just yards away.

They were beaten back by the intense smoke, but Mrs Ahmed raced to the front of the house and used her shoe to smash a ground floor bay window at the same time as a neighbour managed to break through the front door.

Despite the intense heat, the inquest heard how Mrs Ahmed fought her way back into the house at least four times to rescue her sons.

She raced upstairs to rescue 18-month-old Ebraar from his cot before dashing back in for Mobeen, who was found lying face down in a corner of the front room.

Police officers then helped Mrs Ahmed rescue four-year-old Rehman, who was also found lying face down.

Mrs Ahmed's elderly mother, Bashir Begum, had also run into the house to help rescue the children but collapsed after suffering smoke inhalation.

A fire report concluded that the most probable cause of the blaze, which happened on November 10 last year, was that Mobeen had been rocking himself in front of the gas fire with his feet leaning on the supply pipe. The pipe must have given way and then the gas ignited.

Mobeen, who was unable to speak because of his autism, died from smoke inhalation.

Bolton coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded a verdict of accidental death. She said: "Nargis, her mother and PC Beaumont acted with the most incredible courage in the circumstances.

"Nargis left the house for a shorter amount of time than if she had gone to the lavatory. Mobeen's death was clearly the result of a tragic accident."

Divisional fire officer Neil Pomfret said: "Nargis' actions should be commended.

"She and PC Beaumont were particularly brave to enter that building so many times."

Mobeen's father, Mukhta, who was at work at the time of the fire, said: "Mobeen was a very loving and well behaved boy.

"The fire was just a terrible accident."