A man has been hailed as a 'hero' after he raised the alarm to a fire that destroyed a garage on New Year's Day morning.

Thirty-one-year-old Salvio D'Sa decided not to drink too much New Years Eve because he knew he had work the next day.

He and his cousin left their friends' house not long past midnight, arriving at Mr D'Sa's home in Lakeside Avenue shortly after 1am.

"I've lived here for five years and never heard anything like the noise that was coming from outside," Mr D'Sa told News Shopper.

"I went out to see what it was and I saw a small fire, but it spread like crazy.

"I called the emergency services immediately and I ran to the door way, there was a lot of smoke.

"I tried knocking but it wasn't working, so I started barging the door. Eventually a mother and her child got out. Thank god they weren't hurt. A fire like this it could have been much worse.

"I was home early that's why I was there. The neighbours must have still been out. It was New Year's Eve, not many people were about. Luckily, I don't think the mother and child were hurt."

Mr D'sa's sister, Audrey, watched the situation unfold - and praised her brother's heroics.

She said: "The fire was spreading rapidly and the smoke was so strong but he still tried to get the lady out."

Mr D'Sa said the adrenaline got him through.

He said: "It was just a good thing I had laid off the beers because I had work!"

The London Fire Brigade said the garage was completely destroyed the garage of the two storey house, and the fire had damaged the roof.

A spokesman said: "Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a house on Lakeside Avenue in Thamesmead in the early hours of January 1.

"No injuries are reported. The cause of the fire is believed to be due to an electrical fault in a consumer unit located in the garage."