A HERO postman evacuated residents from their homes after smelling smoke seeping out of a flat.

Paul Philbin went beyond the call of duty on his morning delivery round by warning residents to get out of the two-storey block of flats in Chestnut Close, Catford.

The 25-year-old of Engleheart Road, Catford, called 999 after getting no response when he frantically hammered on the door of one of the flats.

Fire crews from Downham and Beckenham forced entry into the empty flat at around 10.10am on August 8 and found a frying pan smoking on the cooker.

Mr Philbin said: "It's a good job I heard the alarm.

"Who knows what would have happened if the fire brigade had not attended when they did. I have been dubbed the office hero."