A quick-thinking Selby man returned a favour to his neighbours - by saving their house from burning down.

David Thompson, of Mayfield Drive, Brayton, switched off the gas supply and raised the alarm when he noticed smoke billowing out of the neighbours' garage opposite his home.

Firefighters, who put out the blaze within minutes, today praised Mr Thompson for his actions, which saved the four-bedroom detached house from serious damage.

Two years ago Kevin Waterworth, who lives in the fire-damaged house with his partner, Lisa Roe, and her three children, alerted police to burglars who were attempting to ransack Mr Thompson's home.

On Sunday afternoon, father-of-two Mr Thompson, 42, was finally able to return the favour.

He said: "My daughter alerted me to the smoke coming from our neighbours' garage. I ran across the road, and told my wife to phone the fire brigade.

"I then turned the gas off at the mains.

"I'm really pleased that I could repay Kevin for what he did for me two years ago. Neighbours should always look out for one another."

Lisa, 33, said: "We were Christmas shopping in Leeds when another neighbour phoned me on my mobile to tell us the house was on fire. We rushed back but, thankfully, it had already been put out.

"If it wasn't for Dave, we would have been coming home to a charred shell."

Selby firefighter Paul Bennett said they used a sledgehammer to break down the garage door and reach the fire, which had broken out in a utility room.

The blaze, which was started by an electrical fault, caused extensive fire damage to the utility room and smoke damage to the rest of the property.

Mr Bennett said: "Mr Thompson showed quick-thinking by turning the gas supply off. He greatly reduced the possibility of it being a lot more serious."

Mr Waterworth, 43, said he alerted police two years ago when he spotted three men attempting to burgle the Thompsons' house.

He passed on their car registration and they were later apprehended by officers.

He said: "Dave's actions on Sunday probably saved our house. I think that makes us quits!"

selby@ycp.co.uk