He's my hero, says Margaret, 82, after taxi driver rescues her from flat fire

Paul Hickinbottom smashed through a door to the apartment block where 82-year-old Margaret Bright was living after spotting smoke in a ground floor flat.

The 40-year-old walked through the black smoke to get to Mrs Bright's upstairs flat before carrying her down the communal stairs and outside to safety.

The rescue took place in Rainbow Street in Coseley just before 7pm on Monday night.

Mrs Bright, who has lived in her flat for 27 years, thanked Mr Hickinbottom yesterday, describing him as 'my hero'.

But the taxi driver, who lives in Poole Crescent, said: "I did what any normal neighbour would do - try and help those around them who might be in need.

"It was nothing really."

Mr Hickinbottom was returning home from a shop ASDA when he spotted smoke and took a detour to Rainbow Street.

When he saw people crowded outside the house he broke through the door to the Dudley Council-owned apartment block.

He said: "I knew she was up there so I ran upstairs and shouted for her to open the door.

"She ain't the fastest anymore, bless her, so when she opened the door I picked her up and took her outside.

"I think everyone is just glad to know she is okay. I was covered in black so I went to have a bath before getting my tea."

Mrs Bright was alerted to the fire by friend Mavis Millard. She had called her up after hearing loud noises in the flat below.

Mrs Millard then looked across from her house opposite and saw smoke coming from the property below.

Mrs Bright said: "I was just having my tea when I heard a load of noise downstairs. I called Mavis and she told me there was black smoke coming from below.

"I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

"Paul came in and carried me out. He's my hero, I can't be thankful enough.

"I'm still in shock about the whole thing."

Fire crews from Dudley and Bilston smashed windows to the downstairs flat to tackle the blaze.

A man, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of arson.