An 8-year-old Leek boy has been called a "hero" after helping to prevent a fire that was just inches away from reaching a nearby house.

Young Oliver Beverley spotted the fire while riding his bike down Abbotts Road in Leek - a bin and fence had caught fire between his dad Alex's house, and a neighbour's house.

He was able to think quickly and alert his parents to the fire in time for them to call emergency services and fight the fire with a garden hose, and even managed to save his pet guinea pig, Tink, who's hutch was also close to the fire.

Eight-year-old Oliver said: "When I came home on my bike I saw the fence on fire between the houses.

"I knew from Cubs that if you see something that could be a danger you must tell a grown up, so I told my mummy, who then told my daddy and he jumped up and tried to put it out while phoning 999.

"I was quite scared as our guinea pig hutch was really near the fire, but I saved Tink before the fire reached her and waited out the front of our house for the fire brigade."

Oliver's dad Alex Beverley added: "The fire was within inches of taking the house. The fire brigade were called but both neighbours tackled the fire with a shower head out of the bathroom window, and the hose from next door's garden.

"We managed to tackle the fire before they arrived. But they still used their heat sensor just to make sure it was out.

"The firefighters praised Oliver, and told him that what he did was impressive for an eight year old boy, and he should be really proud of himself."

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Leek pumps one and two attended a secondary fire at Abbott's Road, Leek on Monday 20 September 6:46pm. A fence had caught fire. No fatals or casualties, incident closed."