A police officer's quick thinking has saved the lives of seven people trapped in a burning building.

PC Neil Dobson was on a routine job with his police dog Monty at about midnight on May 18 when he was alerted to block of flats on fire in London Road, Croydon.

After seeing thick black smoke PC Dobson tied up Monty outside and rushed into the building.

With many residents still asleep he had to force his way into the flats to wake and alert them to the danger.

The officer then carried on through the three floors of flats despite injuring himself breaking through the door.

Thankfully he was successful in evacuating every person safely, including a mother and baby, before the arrival of the London Fire Brigade.

No resident was injured.

PC Dodson said: “There was a press article the next day reporting that the fire had completely destroyed the flats.

"It wasn’t till I read that, that I realised I’d actually probably saved some lives.”