A BUS driver came to work in York on Monday – having just rescued his neighbour from a burning flat.

Martin Carlin, 53, lives in Accrington in Lancashire, but has been working in York as a driver of a university bus.

Mr Carlin, who normally works for Transdev at the company’s Blackburn depot, said: “I don’t smoke in my flat so I nipped outside. We have a contract down in York at the moment so I had to get up earlier than usual. When I came downstairs I saw smoke billowing out of next door’s flat.

"I heard the smoke alarm going off but I think he had fallen asleep with a cigarette in bed.

"I banged on the door several times and he finally came out and collapsed into my arms."

The 56-year-old victim, who has not been named, was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by ambulance, suffering burns to the arms and legs. Police have said Mr Carlin’s actions were life-saving.

York Press:

Mr Carlin, pictured, said: "He was in a right state. So was his flat. I’m just glad that I was on an earlier shift because if I hadn’t been up at that time nobody else would have been there to wake him."

Following the incident, Mr Carlin went back to his flat to have a quick shower before setting off to York.

He said: "Nobody believed me at first when I told them what had happened. But my friend Andrew, who drove me down to York, showed them his phone because it was all over social media.

"My boss just said go in to the canteen for an hour and have a brew. I think he was a bit shocked by the whole thing.

"We were down in York ferrying around the freshers students and they were really nice and respectful so I didn’t really want to let them down."

A spokesman for Transdev said: "Martin is a model employee who always puts the needs of others before himself. He has been with Transdev for ten years and is a popular and friendly member of our team."