AN HEROIC postal worker yesterday saved a girl from her blazing Newport home. Parcelforce worker Mike Parfitt (pictured) was on a delivery round when he spotted the fire in a house at Eton Road, Maindee yesterday morning.

He grabbed a ladder and smashed a bedroom window with a hammer to help Heather Perrett-Douglas, 15, escape from a smoke-filled bedroom.

Fire broke out in the kitchen of the house at 11am. Schoolgirl Heather escaped - then returned after realising her mother Carol was asleep in an upstairs' bedroom. But she got lost in the smoke and was trapped inside.

Mr Parfitt, 36, tried to enter the house but was beaten back by smoke. He was fetching a ladder from next door as firefighters arrived and led Heather's mother from the blaze. Mr Parfitt smashed a window and Heather jumped from the first floor bedroom.

The father-of-two, from Markham Crescent, Oakdale, said: "People told me that a girl was in there. I just think I did what anyone else would have done. "If it was one of my family in that situation, then I would hope someone would have done the same. The girl came out feet first, and jumped to the ground before I could get hold of her.

"She hit her head on the ground, and it made a loud crack, so I am just glad to hear that she is all right, that is the most important thing."

She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, and detained overnight for treatment. Mr Parfitt was treated for minor cuts to the head before being allowed home. South Wales Fire Service sub officer Alan Francis told the Argus: "If it wasn't for his bravery and quick thinking the situation could have been far worse than it was."

Next door neighbour Gary Rabjohns, 39, added: "He's a real hero." Two fire crews from Maindee fought the blaze, which is believed to have spread from the kitchen to the upstairs bathroom, filling the house with thick black billowing smoke. The cause is not thought to be suspicious.

Sub Officer Francis said: "The fire was quite severe, causing extensive damage to the back of the house.

"It doesn't have to be demolished but a lot of repairs need to be carried out before it gets back to normal."