TWO police officers who were on patrol in Church Street, Mere, had to act swiftly when they heard a fire alarm sounding down the road last Thursday morning.

PC Cathy Byers and PCSO Pete Tscherniawsky, both based at Mere police station, ran to the house, extinguished the fire and dragged the burning mattresses and blankets from the upstairs window to the pavement.

PCSO Tscherniawsky said: “We were just walking through the village when all of a sudden we heard an alarm in the distance.

“We ran and quickly as we could to the alarm and saw that smoke was pouring out of the building, it was quite a shock.

“We ran into the house and made sure everyone was safe. We then went upstairs and threw the burning mattress out of the window, making sure there was nobody below, of course."

“We’re just both thankful that nobody was injured.”

It is believed an electrical fault had caused the fire within the bedroom of the house, but both occupants were unhurt and inspected by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Fire crews from Gillingham and Wincanton attended to put the fire out after the two police officers had arrived at the house.