A PASSER-BY who saved a family from a burning house has been commended for his actions.

Darren Shenton kicked down a front door and rescued an elderly man after seeing smoke coming from an upstairs flat.

The 39-year-old father-of-two then went back into the smoke-filled home two more times to save the man's wife and son.

The former security business owner yesterday received a commendation from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for his actions on August 14 last year.

Darren saw the fire, which had been started by a chip pan, as he drove along Duke Street in Heron Cross, after picking up his partner Claire Hurst from work.

He ran up to the flat, where he found the three adults asleep, woke them up and dragged them out just before firefighters arrived.

Darren, who now delivers pizzas and runs children's football and fishing clubs, told The Sentinel the experience had changed his life.

He said: "I've taken a lot from what happened and it's changed my life in a positive way.

"It was my gut instinct to go into the flat and I'm glad I did because there were three people inside who could have died.

"Anyone else would have done what I did. The thought of someone going through the pain of burning overrides any fear you have for your own safety.

"I was thinking clearly and knew what I had to do. I didn't expect to receive this commendation. I'm humbled and overwhelmed."

Darren's partner Claire, aged 36, said: "It was very frightening at the time. All we could see was this thick grey smoke and Darren just jumped out of the car, kicked down the door and ran into the flat.

"I shouted at him to come back but he wouldn't. He came out with the man over his shoulders and then ran back in. The second time he came out I thought 'this is it' but then he went back again.

"He wouldn't have left anyone in there. It really has changed his life. He's got a lot more confidence now."

Stoke-on-Trent area commander Wayne Bowcock, who presented Darren with his award, said: "It is an honour on behalf of the fire service to recognise the brave actions Darren took.

"He acted extremely selflessly, putting his own safety at risk and it's quite clear that if Darren hadn't taken the action he did, we would have been looking at three fatalities.

"He risked his own life to save three others. With fires, it is smoke that is often the killer and so these people were extremely lucky to get out when they did.

"Although we never advise people to go into burning buildings, we have to praise the actions of this heroic man."