A BUS driver rescued his neighbour from a burning flat – then went to work as if nothing had happened.

Martin Carlin, 53, has been described as ‘heroic’ by neighbours after saving a 56-year-old man from his burning flat in Accrington at 7.45am today.

The victim, who has not been named, suffered burns to the arms and legs in the blaze and police said Mr Carlin’s actions were life saving.

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The man, who has mobility issues, also suffered smoke inhalation in the fire and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by ambulance. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Mr Carlin, who works for Transdev Lancashire at the company’s Blackburn depot, said: “I don’t smoke in my flat so I nipped outside. We have a contract down in York at the moment so I had to get up earlier than usual. When I came downstairs I saw smoke billowing out of next door’s flat.

“I heard the smoke alarm going off but I think he had fallen asleep with a cigarette in bed.

“I banged on the door several times and he finally came out and collapsed into my arms. If it had been a few seconds longer I would have smashed the door down with tools. My only concern was getting him out.

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“He wanted to go back in to the flat to get his mobility scooter because he’s not good on his feet. But there was no way I was letting him go back in. I was a bit worried because he’s quite a big guy, but I just laid him down in the porch and talked to him until paramedics arrived.

“He had burns to his left leg and left arm and his black tracksuit bottoms were all burnt. He was in a right state. So was his flat. I’m just glad that I was on an earlier shift because if I hadn’t been up at that time nobody else would have been there to wake him.

“One of the policemen put in his report that I saved his life. I was just doing what I think anybody else would do. I’m just glad that he’s okay.”

Following his heroics Mr Carlin went back to his flat to have a quick shower, before setting off on an 80-mile journey to York, where he was yesterday driving around the city’s university students.

Mr Carlin said when he arrived in York one of his colleagues suggested he take a week off. But the former factory worker declined and said he had a job to do.

“Nobody believed me at first when I told them what had happened. But my friend Andrew Whittle, who drove me down to York, showed them his phone because it was all over social media,” said Mr Carlin.

“My boss just said go in to the canteen for an hour and have a brew. I think he was a bit shocked by the whole thing.

“We were down in York last week ferrying around the freshers students and they were really nice and respectful so I didn’t really want to let them down.”

The fire happened in a downstairs flat in Glebe Close. It caused severe damage to a bedroom and smoke damage to the rest of the property.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but firefighters believe it was caused by ‘smoking materials’.

Two appliances attended the scene where four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire. Other firefighters administered oxygen until paramedics arrived.

A neighbour said: “Thank God for Martin. If he hadn’t done what he did the fire could have been a lot worse and there could have been a different outcome. When he gets back I’m going to buy him a bottle of vodka to say thank you. His actions have probably saved my life as well. He’s a hero.”

A spokesman for Transdev said: “Martin is a model employee who always puts the needs of others before himself. He has been with Transdev for ten years and is a popular and friendly member of our team.”