A MOTHER has hailed her 14-year-old son a hero after his prompt actions saved the lives of a family.

Jonathon Park was leaving his Leigh home when he noticed flames in the front room of the house opposite.

Realising the house was on fire he raced to a neighbour's and dialled 999.

Firefighters arrived at the house, in East Avenue, to discover a woman, Zhara Withington, semi-conscious on the living room sofa.

Her partner Christopher Taylor and their 13-month-old daughter Daya, who had been asleep upstairs, were also rescued.

The family, who have lived in East Avenue for a year, were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Bedford High School pupil Jonathon had been on his way to a friend's for the night at 9pm on Thursday when he spotted the blaze.

He said: "I just saw a flicker reflecting in the door, at first I though it was the TV, but then I saw the smoke. I wasn't sure if people were in at first, but I stayed around until they were all safe."

Jonathon's mum Cheryl, aged 31, said: "I'm so proud of him, it could have been so much worse, especially with a baby inside."

The fire was caused by a chip pan that had been left unattended in the kitchen.

Leading fireman at Farnworth Geoff Sidlow said: "We can't praise Jonathon enough. He did a great job and potentially saved this family's lives."