A HERO security guard saved his neighbour's home from going up in flames.

Diane Thornley praised next door neighbour Bob Yates for his bravery when her electricity fuse box caught fire on Saturday afternoon.

Quick-thinking Bob ran from his house and wrapped a fire blanket around the flaming box while firefighters dashed to Mrs Thornley's home in Bailey Lane, Breightmet.

"Everyone should have a neighbour like Bob," said Mrs Thornley, aged 30.

"He saved our house and all our possessions.

"It could have been so much worse if it hadn't been for his bravery. He didn't think about his own safety, he just reacted to help a neighbour in need."

Mrs Thornley, who lives with son Edmund, aged four, had been cleaning the house when she smelt burning - her son was playing outside.

She said: "The smoke alarm went off when I was in the kitchen, I saw the flames coming from the box, which the firefighters later said had short-circuited, and I ran from the house.

"I had my mobile phone with me and called the fire brigade as I banged on Bob's door. He ran to the house but the front door was locked.

"He had to go through my back door. He tried to put a wet towel over the box but that didn't work, so he ran back to his house and got a fire blanket.

"The flames must have been terrifying when he returned, but he fought them back with the fire blanket."

Modest hero Bob, who works in Heywood, said: "I'm not a hero, I just did what any good neighbour would do. There wasn't time to be scared although looking back it was quite frightening.

"I held the fire flanket around the flames and tried to duck down low to avoid the rising fumes. I'm just pleased Diane and her house are okay."