Three detectives have been praised for their “fearless actions” after they battled flames and thick smoke to save four women, a toddler and a baby from a burning house in Blackheath.

Detective Sergeant Geraint Jones, Detective Constables Toby Passant and David Milton were among seven police offers from the Met nominated for a Police Bravery Award.

In July last year, the officers were travelling as part of a police operation along Shooters Hill Road when they noticed black, acrid smoke and flames coming from the first floor bedroom of a house.

After pulling over, DC Milton tried unsuccessfully to get in through the front door and called the fire brigade.

DS Jones, DC Passant, and a passing member of public, managed to get into the house through the back door where upstairs they found four women unaware of the fire which was now raging in one of the rooms.

Thick black smoke was billowing from the house and glass was beginning to smash when DS Jones attempted to make his way upstairs to check for more residents.

One of the women shouted “child! child!” in broken English while pointing to an upstairs bedroom.

Without hesitation they went back into the house, held their breath and powered through the smoke to the bedroom where fire had started.

Struggling to breath, they crawled into the bedroom where they discovered a baby girl and a three year old who they carried out of the house to safety.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said luckily the children survived without any significant effects from the fire or smoke.

He said: “This was directly attributable to the fearless actions of DS Jones, DC Passant and Matt - the courageous member of the public.

“Had it not been for their collective prompt and selfless actions in the face of extreme danger, the circumstances would most certainly have been very different and the likelihood of child fatalities would have been very real."

He added: “It is a privilege to nominate all three of these deserving officers for this prestigious award and to pay respect to the gallant work of the passing member of the public.”

Last night the bravery award for the Metropolitan Police region was given to PC Ian Molineaux who tackled a knife-wielding man to the ground during a rampage in Essex.