THREE Network Rail men became shy heroes when they smashed their way into a blazing house to rescue a 13-year-old girl.

The men went into action after driving past a house on fire in the village of Essendine in the East Midlands.

The railway workers, part of an ultrasonics team, found a girl trapped indoors and set about rescuing her. Dave Challis called the emergency services while Graeme Thorn-ton and Tony Smith smashed a double glazed window with a concrete slab to gain access.

Dave said later: “We don’t want a fuss made out of it as anyone would have done the same. We followed the instructions of the emergency services and made sure she was covered with wet material to limit the burns. I’m just glad she’s okay.”

The teenage girl, who was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary, suffered only moderate burns to her hands and face due to the quick actions of the team and is expected to make a full recovery.

The blaze was believed to have been started by an aerosol can placed on an open fire.