A Brentwood man has been hailed a hero after diving into a smoke-logged house to save two young children.

John Pickard, of Knight's Way, fought his way through the smoke to rescue a three-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy.

The ordeal happened at Knight's Way on Saturday night, at about 10.30pm, after a fire broke out in the house next door to Mr Pickard's.

He was alerted to the danger and went into the house twice, first to attempt to put the fire out, then, realising that two children were still in there, to save them.

But as the fire service this week applauded his actions the self-effacing Forest Gate schoolteacher said he simply felt "embarrassed" by the fuss.

Mr Pickard, 51, said: "It just didn't occur to me to be frightened.

"The children were scared and crying. They were only little and didn't understand what was going on. I just wanted to get them out."

"There was a lot of smoke, which was a problem, and it was very dark in there. If you want to commend anyone then commend the fire brigade. They were here very quickly and they were so efficient."

But Martin Powell, station commander at Brentwood Fire Station, said: "If it had not been for the actions of Mr Pickard this could have been much worse. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves."

Although a relatively small fire, the blaze was quickly filling the house with smoke.

Mr Pickard, who is married and has a son and daughter of his own, twice tried to put the blaze out himself before leaving it to the fire crews.

The fire service says the blaze is being treated as being of suspicious origin.

A woman appeared before Grays Magistrates on Monday charged with causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life.

Blaze hero: John Pickard who saved two youngsters from a fire.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.