A FAMILY have paid tribute to a 'Good Samaritan' neighbour who stopped their home from being destroyed in a blaze.

Taxi driver Dave Kirkby came to the rescue following a fire in the home of his neighbour Linda Logan.

Linda, 50, lives at Park Place, Redlam, Blackburn, with her daughter Debra, her husband Simon Ainsworth, and their children Jessica, Hayley and Abigail.

The family had just finished their evening meal and decided to take a walk but forgot to remove a chip pan from a lit cooker.

The family returned home to find their kitchen covered in flames and fire spreading to the rest of the house.

Linda said: "Dave was brilliant he smashed his way into the house and put out the fire in the kitchen. He also shut all the doors to stop the smoke spreading to the rest of the house."

Mrs Logan added: "The kitchen was completely gutted and the rest of the downstairs was badly damaged. If it wasn't for Dave the whole of the house could have been completely destroyed."

The incident happened shortly after 8pm on Tuesday evening and the fire brigade were called out.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said: "We were called out to the house but by the time we arrived the incident had been dealt with.

"Once again this incident has highlighted the dangers of leaving chip pans unattended on cookers."

Our picture shows David Kirkby being thanked by Linda Logan (left) and daughter Debra for putting out the blaze which started when a chip pan was left on the stove.