Hero neighbour rescues 94-year-old

Heroic Douglas Fay plucked Stan Duke, 94, to safety from the burning building. Mr Duke's condition on Friday morning was described as "serious, but stable" in intensive care. His son was at his bedside, police said.

Eye witness Andrew Marlborough, the Crichel estate's security manager, said he saw Mr Fay trying to resuscitate Mr Duke as emergency crews arrived.

Fire crews from Wimborne, Blandford, Ferndown, Redhill and Verwood converged on the scene after receiving a 999 call just before 4pm to say someone was trapped inside the wooden bungalow.

They arrived to find flames and thick smoke coming from the partly-thatched Crow's Nest Bungalows on the Crichel Estate and Mr Duke unconscious outside.

As seven pumps and a water carrier dealt with the blaze, an ambulance crew treated Mr Duke at the scene before he was taken to Poole Hospital.

He was suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire almost destroyed the house and the fire service remained at the scene for several hours.

Dorset Police and local council staff attended to control traffic.

Fire officers are carrying out an investigation to find the cause of the blaze, but a Dorset Police spokesman said last night that there were no suspicious circumstances.

There will be an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Paul Collins, the area manager for Poole and East Dorset fire brigade, said the property was too dangerous to enter in the dark.

"We have an unstable chimney and the floor has given way," said Mr Collins.

"We now have to be concerned for the safety of the firefighters," he added.

Fire crews from Wimborne helped Mr Duke, while crews from Verwood tackled the blaze, Mr Collins added.

Mr Marlborough said he arrived before the emergency services and helped to direct rescue workers to the scene.

The security manager said that Mr Duke and Mr Fay were tenants of the estate and would be re-housed.