Neighbour to rescue (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Neighbour to rescue

A PENSIONER was able to call on expert help from a neighbour when a fire broke out at her house in Long Compton.

As well as ringing the fire brigade when she spotted smoke coming from the roof of her extension, Janet Stevens, aged 67, called on retired firefighter David Rewbridge to help because her husband, Gordon, was out.

Quick-thinking Janet from Shipston Road, also gave Mr Rewbridge the garden hose so he could keep the blaze under control until firefighters from Stratford and Chipping Norton arrived at about 12 noon on Monday.

She said: "It's a low extension, so it wasn't a matter of getting right on top of the roof but smoke was starting to come back into the kitchen. You couldn't just stand and look at it.

"There wasn't much damage really, just to part of the roof structure and some of the timbers."

She thanked Mr Rewbridge for his help. "I was grateful he was able to come along and damp it down," she said.

Stratford sub officer Adrian Ashley praised the quick thinking of Mrs Stevens and Mr Rewbridge and added: "They did exactly the right thing."