Two neighbours are to be nominated for an award by firefighters after rescuing a woman from her burning house.

Nathan Featherstone and Richard Sweeney saved Pauline Phillips after a chip pan fire started in her home in Firthcliffe Parade, Liversedge, shortly before 1am yesterday.

Mrs Phillips's two children Lindsay, 14 and Craig, 19, were also in the house and a smoke alarm alerted Mrs Phillips, 39, to the blaze. Her daughter Tina lives next-door-but-one and is Mr Featherstone's girlfriend.

Unemployed Mr Featherstone, 28, said: "I was in bed when I heard smashing glass and somebody shouting 'help me! When I came out I saw her on the roof."

Mr Sweeney, a 37-year-old delivery driver, passed a ladder over the hedge to Mr Featherstone, who went up and got her down.

"She was hysterical," Mr Featherstone said.

"There were flames and smoke billowing out of the kitchen window and no way she could've come out. It was just instinct to help."

Mrs Phillips is believed to have cut wrists and hands after smashing a bedroom window to try to escape.

Sub officer Terry Kirby, of Cleckheaton fire station, said: "I am going to recommend that the neighbours get some sort of recognition. Their efforts certainly saved her life. It has not yet been decided what award they will be put forward for."