TAVISTOCK'S former community constable helped rescue a man and a child from their blazing home in Callington on Saturday.

Passers-by had raised the alarm at the town police station at 10pm and PC Simon Dell, who is based in Callington, ran across the street to the flat in Fore Street.

He said: 'I saw the upstairs window was broken with smoke and flames billowing out.

'The occupant was outside with her eight-year-old daughter and a friend. She was hysterical saying her other child was still in the house.'

PC Dell called the fire brigade and went into the house.

'I got halfway up the stairs but was forced back by the smoke,' he said.

Grabbing another lungful of air he went back in and crawled up the stairs to the first floor. He said the fire was confined to the lounge and he made sure the door was secure, burning his hands and face in the process.

'I couldn't see a thing, so I called out and heard the child screaming on the next floor. I found him, a little boy of about 11, slumped in a bedroom. I managed to crawl back down with him and get out of the house and I assumed that was that, but it turned out the husband was in there too,' said PC Dell.

He was joined by colleague Jim Pollock and the pair of them went into the house again, their faces wrapped up against the smoke.

PC Dell said the door which was holding back the flames was beginning to burn through. With little time left, the officers made their way to the room above the fire and found a man lying unconscious. They managed to get him down the stairs and out of the building, where he came round.

'I don't think it would have been very long before he died in there,' said PC Dell.

The family and the two policemen were taken to Derriford and treated for burns and smoke inhalation. 'It was scary,' said PC Dell.

Callington fire brigade was soon on the scene with their two appliances and one from Saltash. They put out the fire quickly, confining the damage.