TWO young children who were trapped by the flames of a house fire in New Cross were among the people rescued by firefighters this morning.

Firefighters battled with the blaze on the ground floor of the town house in Balborough Street while a 999 operator kept one of the women who was upstairs talking.

The operator gave survival advice to the woman who was trapped until the fire crews wearing breathing apparatus had put out enough of the fire to get to the stairs.

They rescued a child, who is believed to be around five, and a woman who is said to be in her late 30s, from a back bedroom.

A further search of the property revealed there was another woman and child, of similar ages to the other pair, and they were brought out by the firefighters.

The crew went back into the home to search for more people and finish putting out the blaze while the four occupants were treated for smoke inhalation.

They were there for just under two hours dealing with the incident which is now being investigated by police.

New Cross blue watch crew manager Ray Foster was the officer in charge at the scene.

He said: “Although all members of the team did a fantastic job the actions of my two breathing apparatus wearers Firefighter Scott Hoare and Firefighter Mark Lawrence particularly stand out.

“It may be a cliché but I firmly believe the breathing apparatus crew acted in a professional way, in the best traditions of the fire service.”