A pair of hero plasterers ran into a burning building to rescue an elderly woman from a house fire.

James Abbott, 30, and Matthew Simmonds, 29, were driving back from a job when they spotted flames engulfing a bungalow in Wrexham, north Wales.

People outside were shouting at the occupants to get out so the pair leapt into action and courageously ran into the smoke-filled house.

James and Matthew had to force their way through the darkness to a living room, where they found a confused woman, in her 90s, trying to phone for help.

They managed to guide her to safety and out of the property, which was fully engulfed by the inferno just minutes later.

Around 20 firefighters worked throughout the night to battle the blaze started by a cooking appliance, believed to be a chip pan.

Two other pensioners, also in their 90s, were taken to hospital after the fire broke out at 4pm on Sunday.

James said: ‘It was black with smoke, you couldn’t see anything except the red glow from the fire and we could hear someone talking in the living room area.

‘I thought why is somebody just casually talking away while their house is burning and then we found this frail old lady sitting on a chair.

‘She was clearly confused and wasn’t aware to the severity of the fire. She had a torch and was trying to use the landline phone and I told her ‘you’ve got to get out.’’

He added: ‘Her hair was singed, and her hands all burnt, and she was bleeding. It was absolutely horrible to see, and I just hope she’s ok.’

James said one of the three pensioners was rescued by another member of the public, who hasn’t been identified.

He said: ‘I hope he gets the recognition he deserves as well because he did amazingly.’

Steve Houghton, from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘The devastating damage shows just how destructive fire can be.

‘It’s so easy to forget your cooking, especially if you are tired, distracted or have been drinking.

‘Our message is clear – never turn your back on your cooking, even for a minute.’

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