A Trowbridge hero has won top accolade for her outstanding bravery after risking her life to save a 94-year-old neighbour from a blaze.

Bardha Kola received the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation and a Bronze Medal from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire following her life-saving efforts.

The 41-year-old was praised by the fire chief for 'one of the most exceptional rescues by a member of the public' that he has ever known.

Bardha received her awards from the Chief Fire Officer of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Ben Ansell, at a presentation held at Trowbridge fire station.

She was nominated for the commendation by station manager Richard Humphrey, who attended the fire in Newtown, Trowbridge on 28 January 2020.

Mr Ansell then nominated her for further recognition from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

Bardha was hailed a hero after she rushed to save neighbour Cynthia 'Pat' Shanks after spotting flames tearing through the roof of her terraced home.

She woke the disabled great-grandmother after her husband Lec Kola spotted the blaze as he returned home from work.

While he dialled 999 for the emergency services, Bardha dashed upstairs to get Pat and led her to safety.

She said afterwards: “We had just come home from Bath when we saw the fire.

"I knew that Pat would be in bed so I got the key to her door and went upstairs to wake her up.

"She was fast asleep in bed and I woke her up and said ‘Pat, we have got to get out, there’s a fire’.

“It was not too bad. I got her walking frame and managed to get her to her stairlift and downstairs.”

Following the rescue, Mrs Shanks’ daughter, Susanne Matthews, 62, said: “Bardha is my heroine. She saved my mother’s life. Mum is deaf and would not have heard a smoke alarm.”

A Wiltshire Fire Service spokeswoman said: “The size and ferocity of the fire was such that it could have broken through the ceiling at any time, without any warning.

"Mrs Kola carried out all of these actions in the minutes before firefighters arrived on scene.”

Chief fire officer Mr Ansell said: “The commendation is the highest award I can offer to a member of the public for acts of outstanding bravery, selflessness or courage in the face of adversity.

“In exceptional cases, I will also make a nomination to other bodies for recognition, and I was extremely pleased that the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire has recognised Bardha for her incredible bravery on that day. It was my honour to make the presentation of a bronze medal on their behalf.”

He added: “Bardha acted instinctively, selflessly and bravely, with complete disregard for her own safety.

"By putting her own life at risk, her actions that evening undoubtedly saved her neighbour’s life and, for me, it was one of the most exceptional rescues I have ever experienced from a member of the public.”