Fire rescue binman celebrates with Greggs cuppa

Refuse collectors Kevin Marriott (left) and Steve Whitehouse spotted the fire while working in Tipton

A binman who rescued a family from a fire said he paused afterwards only for a cup of tea from Greggs before carrying on with his round.

Steve Whitehouse was working in Tipton, West Midlands, on Tuesday when he spotted the fire at a maisonette on Ridgeway Road.

Sharing fresh details of the dramatic rescue, Mr Whitehouse told BBC Radio WM he launched himself over a fence before climbing up to a balcony.

The 50-year-old threw a dog to safety before returning to rescue a man and woman.

The flat was completely gutted by the blaze but nobody was seriously hurt.

"I got a bit emotional [and] a bit upset," Mr Whitehouse said.

"They checked me over and I was fine. I went to Greggs, had a strong good cup of tea and I carried on with my day."

Smoke was billowing out of the balcony

Mr Whitehouse was doing the rounds with his colleague and best friend Kevin Marriott.

The pair, who grew up on the same estate, thought they had stumbled on a factory fire at first.

But they soon spotted a woman on a second-floor maisonette balcony screaming for help.

Both bin men have been praised for their incredible bravery

"Before I managed to stop the wagon he was gone," Mr Marriott added.

"He was like a whippet [when] we noticed the smoke."

The fire affected the entire flat and destroyed its contents

The fire is believed to have started when an e-bike battery exploded.

Nineteen firefighters were deployed to the incident.

A man and a woman in their 20s were provided first aid, while the dog was given oxygen by crews.