A five-year-old boy was rescued as fire swept through his home today.

Fire crews pulled Luke Simmonds from the blaze in Cotton Grass Close, Greater Leys, Oxford.

Luke's 41-year-old mother, Sandra, escaped from the end-of-terrace house but he was trapped in his bedroom.

Neighbours who raised the alarm, saw Luke's face pressed against the bedroom window screaming for help. He then collapsed.

Firefighters brought out the unconscious boy and resuscitated him. He suffered burns and smoke inhalation. Luke and his mother were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Luke's condition was critical but stable. He was later transferred to the burns unit at the Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex.

Fire officer Nigel Robinson said Luke would have died but for the swift action of fire and ambulance crews.

He said: "There was extremely good team work."

Neighbour Peter Smith, 49, said: "There were thick clouds of smoke. We started banging on the door. Then I looked up and saw Luke screaming from his window upstairs.

"A few seconds later he collapsed. It was a terrible thing to see. We felt so helpless."

He looked through the letterbox and saw Luke's mother Sandra stagger to the door, struggle with the locks and stumble out.

Mr Smith then tried to get into the house to save Luke but was forced back by the heat and smoke.

He said: "Other neighbours came out to help. But we only got three paces into the house. There was a big ball of fire."

Soon afterwards firefighters arrived and took over, fighting throughout the smoke and find Luke.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.