A MAN has been hailed a hero after saving the life of an elderly neighbour by climbing into his smoke-logged home.

The man had heard a fire alarm sounding in the home of his disabled neighbour at Corfe Mullen at around 2.30pm on Saturday.

He could smell smoke as he approached the house and tried in vain to get in through the front or back doors.

While on the phone to the fire brigade, he climbed in through a window and found smoke billowing from the oven.

He isolated the oven and found the elderly resident while taking advice from the fire service control room on the phone. He sealed the room and opened the windows to make the atmosphere breathable while they waited for the fire brigade to arrive.

Three fire crews arrived to find the house smoke-logged with the two men in the living room.

Dorset Fire and Rescue said the cause of the fire was an oven which had been on for a long time.

A statement said: “Although we would in no way advocate this course of action, the bravery and selflessness of this person going beyond the call of duty has saved his friend and neighbour’s life.”