A NEW MILL resident has told how he managed to alert firefighters before his neighbours' house became engulfed in flames.

Firefighters revealed in the Examiner yesterday how they had to stop the blaze reaching the house.

Glen Paxman, of Cold Hill Lane, spotted smoke coming from behind his neighbours' house at 2pm on Sunday.

Grass on a 150ft by 120ft banking had set on fire and nearby woods had been set alight.

He dialled 999 and firefighters from Huddersfield attended the scene and tackled the blaze with hose reels and beating equipment until 9.30pm.

At one point, the fire was just 20ft away.

Mr Paxman said: "It could have set fire to my neighbours' house. I came home and saw all this smoke and thought someone was burning rubbish.

"It was very close to the house but it was not damaged in the event- the firefighters managed to put it out in time."

Firefighters believe the fire was started deliberately.