A teenager and two children were rescued by a workman after fire broke out at their Cleckheaton home.

Nicola Watson, 17, was watching TV in her Platt Square home when a fire broke out in the cellar kitchen. She was looking after her 19-month old sister Hannah and her four-year-old cousin Nathan.

"I just saw the room getting full of smoke," said Nicola. "I went to the door and when I opened it, there was lots more smoke and I could hear the flames crackling."

She tried to open the front door to get out, but her mother had locked it when she went to work. "I just started banging on the window and on the door. Hannah and Nathan were in the corner of the room with me. I just wanted to grab them and get out."

Workman Steve Cairns, who was fixing slates to the roof, heard her shouts. "He came down his ladder and bashed the panel through in the door," said Nicola, who is pictured with Hannah. "It took him two seconds to get us out and phone the fire brigade. He was brilliant - a hero."

It is believed a fault in an electric extension caused the fire which damaged clothes, the carpet, chairs and a table.

Mum Karen Norris said: "Steve will be getting a huge bunch of flowers and a thank you card after this!"