Restoration technician Sam Richardson was ahead of the game when he averted what could have been a fatal house fire.

Sam, 20, usually turns up after a fire in his job with restoration specialists Rainbow International. But as he was walking to the pub he spotted a house on fire in Watling Street, Mountsorrel.

Thinking quickly, he hammered on the front door to alert anyone stuck in the house.

Flames were already licking up the walls of the lounge when a man eventually answered.

Sam, who works for Rainbow International's Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham East branch, said: "He came to the door stark naked holding a blanket to put the fire out.

"Then he came back to thank us with nothing but a pillow to cover his blushes."

Rainbow International marketing manager Kirstie Wood said: "Our staff are trained to respond quickly to fire damage, but usually we wait until the fire has actually gone out."

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