Two workmen who saved the life of an 83-year-old man in a house fire at Althorne have been praised by fire crews.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen of his Summerhill home last week, and the men rushed to the rescue after hearing a smoke alarm.

"I can't give them enough praise," said leading fireman Terry Warwick, of South Woodham brigade, which attended the scene with a Burnham fire crew. "There is no doubt they saved his life."

The man was having his lunch when he heard the smoke alarm in his kitchen go off. When he entered the room, it was full of smoke and the chip pan was ablaze.

Mr Warwick said: "Two men working opposite heard the alarm and saw the smoke. They ran across, opened the kitchen door and got him out.

"The light fittings had melted and there was black, acrid smoke. If they hadn't reacted as they did, the chap would have died."

An ambulance crew was called to treat the man, who suffered burns to his head and hands.

Mr Warwick said that the incident highlighted the importance of smoke alarms, and he urged people to check the batteries in them.

He also said that, when dealing with chip pan fires, people should turn off the heat and throw a damp cloth over the fire.

"Don't throw water on it -- put a cool, wet cloth over it and leave for 30 minutes. Call the fire brigade and don't try to move the pan," said Mr Warwick.

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