TWO men who dragged the occupants out of a petrol-bombed Darlington house as the fire took hold insisted last night that they are not heroes.

Adam Davies and Shamus Watson battled through smoke and flames to drag their neighbours from their blazing home on Saturday morning (April 25).

A major fire broke out when the Rydal Road property was targeted in a suspected petrol bomb attack at about 8.30am.

As smoke spewed into the street, Mr Davies and Mr Watson ran towards the danger, risking their own lives in a bid to save those trapped in the burning house.

Eyewitnesses told The Northern Echo that the bombed house had been repeatedly targeted by drugs police and was a hotspot of anti-social behaviour.

A man was seen fleeing the area shortly after the terraced street was rocked by an explosion that partially destroyed one property and left another smoke damaged.

As Mr Watson ran from house to house alerting neighbours to the growing danger, Mr Davies attempted to chase the man before turning back as he realised the ferocious blaze was endangering lives.

The pair then ran into the blazing home and dragged out two of the occupants, another two having already escaped the flames.

Mr Davies, 26, said: “I heard a bang and thought it was a car crash.

“I saw a lad running off and went after him but saw all the smoke and ran to the house.

“The whole place was falling apart, it was full of smoke and there was fire all over – the full house was ablaze when I tried to get to the stairs to drag them out.

“I didn’t think about it being dangerous, I just tried to help them, it was instinct.”

Mr Davies also gave away his shoes to those he saved.

He said: “They were barefoot so I got them some of my trainers – they’re human beings and you’ve got to help.

“They’ve got their lives and I’ve got mine but I’m not going to let someone die.

“I don’t care who they are or what they do, they’re living people and I couldn’t let them burn.”

He added: “I’m no hero whatsoever, I’m just a normal lad.

“If it was me burning or my house exploding, I’d hope someone would help me.”

A local man, aged 30, has been arrested on suspicion of arson and remains in custody where he is helping police with their inquiries.

A statement from Durham Police said everyone from the property had been accounted for and nobody was injured.

It said: "The police are treating this incident as suspicious and once the scene is deemed safe there will be a joint forensic examination with County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue.”

Another Rydal Road resident added: “This comes as no surprise in this street – the house was just raided last week.

“It’s a good job it happened at the weekend because the school’s so close that any kids walking past at 8.30am could have been killed.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact police on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.