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Friends save residents from blaze

3/ 9/2008

THREE friends have been hailed as heroes for saving residents following a suspected arson attack outside their homes.

Brothers Naveed and Moss Butt, and pal Ben Harrison, were driving through Ashton in the early hours of Thursday morning when they spotted a car ablaze on a drive.

As they pulled over they saw that the fire had spread to the property and neighbouring house.

Naveed, 30, said: "At that time of night we realised that they would be asleep so my brother phoned the emergency services and Ben and I went to try and get the attention of the people inside. I had to put my jacket over my head to try and get to the front door. You could see the flames billowing out and it looked like the car was ready to blow.  It was frightening, but we knew what the risks were. I just thought as long as we could get them to wake up, it would be okay."

The men knocked on the doors, even shouting and throwing coins at the windows to try and wake residents, and by the time firefighters arrived they were all safely outside.

Naveed, who runs DNA Estates in Stalybridge, added: "Other cars were driving past but I’ve got family and if someone had just ignored them and driven by, I would be devastated.

"It was exciting, but quite frightening and I’m just glad that everyone came out of it alright."

The blaze, on Darnton Road, destroyed the car and damaged a garage and the porches of both homes.

Patricia Stott, who lives in the neighbouring house with husband Robert, said: "We just want to say a big thank you. If it was not for them we might not be here, we are just so grateful."

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