GRANDAD Stan Worsfold's final read of his Oxford Mail before going to bed may have saved his three grandchildren.

Stan, 82, of Norreys Avenue, Oxford, heard noises in a back room as he flicked through his favourite paper just after midnight.

He rushed in to find an airing cupboard containing an electric immersion heater in flames.

The brave pensioner grabbed a bowl from the kitchen and threw water over the fire.

Then he woke daughter-in-law Margaret and kids Joshua, three, Jack, two, and 18-month-old Eleanor, who were staying at the house and were asleep upstairs.

Retired railway signalman Stan said: "If I hadn't decided to have a final read of the Mail, the whole house could have gone up."

All five were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. Fire service station officer Paul Gardner said: "It must have been very frightening."

But widower Stan refused to be called a hero. He added: "During my time as a signalman we had all kinds of scrapes and you learn to keep calm in a crisis."

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