SMOKE alarms were credited with saving the life of a disabled Birmingham pensioner who was rescued from his burning home.

Thought to be in his 70s, the Northfield man was woken at around 5.50am on Wednesday when clothes left to dry on an electric heater caught fire.

Three fire crews scrambled to the man’s Kingshurst Road home where the pensioner remained on the telephone to operators at the West Midlands Fire Service control centre.

He was able to guide firefighters straight to him, even telling crews the best way to gain access to his house.

Watch commander Paul Smith said: “The gentleman was partially blind and deaf, but he heard the alarm and was in communication with us though the force control centre.