AN eight-year-old Vale of Evesham boy has been hailed a hero by his mum and firefighters.

Damien Smith, of Leys Road, Harvington, followed what he had been taught by firemen and led his mother to safety when fire broke out in their home last Saturday.

Just before 8pm Damien, who was on his computer in a bedroom, heard the smoke alarm go off and spotted smoke coming from the doorway of an adjoining bedroom.

He immediately shut the door and called his mother Emily from downstairs. She opened the bedroom door and immediately closed it again when confronted by thick smoke, then Damien took her hand and led her from the house and they called the fire brigade.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie said: "A few weeks ago, Evesham firemen gave fire safety lessons at Harvington First School where Damien is a pupil. The children were told what to do in the event of a fire. The firemen subsequently visited the village to fit smoke alarms, one of which went into Damien's home."

Two crews from Evesham and one from Bidford tackled the blaze, apparently caused by an electrical fault, last Saturday. One bedroom was gutted and others were damaged by smoke.

Mr Mackie said: "Damien proved himself a real hero. It shows what a little fire training can do and how fitting a smoke alarm helps in preventing an even more serious fire.

"We would like to publicly congratulate him on the prompt and efficient way in which he dealt with what was developing into a serious situation, doing everything he was taught by our fire safety officers."

Mrs Smith, aged 43, said: "I am extremely proud of my little baby hero. He literally dragged me downstairs and outside, even though in the process he slipped and bruised his back."

Mrs Smith's other two children, Julie, aged 16, and Dave, 17, were out. The family is now staying with Mrs Smith's parents next door.