AN ARTIST who may have saved a family’s lives said he is no hero.

Martin Close, who owns the Real Art Academy in Roumelia Lane, Boscombe, has been praised by fire fighters for swiftly calling the emergency services when he heard alarms from a neighbouring property.

Fire fighters who responded to the call at around 3.10pm on Tuesday discovered a family asleep in their flat, with smoke billowing from a saucepan left on the stove.

But the father-of-four said it was a “total surprise” to hear his quick thinking had caused such an impact.

“I really had absolutely no idea, so it’s all come as a bit of a shock, although I’m very pleased to have helped,” he said.

“All that happened is that I heard an alarm going off, and it was one of those things where you expect the noise to stop soon, but it just kept going. After two or three minutes I just thought I’d better call the emergency services.”

Mr Close was working alone at the Academy when he heard the alarm, and said the fire brigade arrived quickly.

He said: “There was a fire engine here within about four minutes, and when they came back out, I thought it must have been a false alarm as nothing dramatic seemed to be going on.

“I’m really surprised to hear that it did some good.”

A Dorset Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the family could have died if Mr Close hadn’t made the call.

He said: “The gentleman who called us was concerned and we sent a crew from Springbourne to the scene.

“They tried to enter the property, and I believe they banged on the door several times to alert the occupants. There was quite a delay in getting in. The family had fallen asleep and left some cooking on in a saucepan.

“This story has a happy ending because of his actions.”