Mr Higgin's colleagues look on proudly as the Mayor presents him with his certificate. On the left is Mr Tweedle.

The Burnley postman who rescued a mother and her four children from a smoke-filled house while on his round received a certificate of commendation yesterday. Mr. David Higgin, who is 26, of Steer Street, Burnley, was presented with the certificate by the Mayor, Ald. E. J. Willis, at the GPO sorting office in Parker Street. The certificate is awarded by the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

Mr Higgin was on his usual round in Stoneyholme when Mrs Jean Graves, of Cavour Street, shouted out of her bedroom window that the house was on fire. Mr Higgin got into the house from the back and dragged a blazing sofa into the street. He then brought the children, aged three, two, one and five months, into the street with the help of a neighbour, Mr Peter Layfield, of Holme Road. However, Mr Layfield was not so brave when it came to being presented with a similar certificate, and so because he would not come to yesterday's presentation it will be given to him at his home. Mr Higgin was congratulated on his action by both the Mayor and head postmaster, Mr A. Tweedle.