Hartlepool man Richard Griffiths, who featured in the Mail with his new wife Chiara Williams after she won our Bride of the Year Competition, saved the day after a pizza box caught fire in his neighbours house.

The 28-year-old, who is the manager at a car dealership in Sunderland, darted into the home of his Elgin Road neighbour to extinguish the fire in the kitchen with a wet tea towel.

A pizza box, which had been left on top of the oven in the kitchen, set alight and Richard's quick thinking, with the help of a neighbour, saved the day.

The owner of the house, who has not been named and is believed to live alone, returned home shortly after.

Chiara, who was at work at the time of the incident, has praised the actions of her husband, who she tied the knot with in August.

The 28-year-old barmaid said: "Next door's smoke alarm went off and Richard rushed outside to see what was happening.

"He went inside the house, with a lad from across the road, to find a pizza box on fire.

"He placed a wet tea towel over the fire and extinguished it. It was a brave act – but daft all the same."

"I just wish he had rang the fire brigade," added Chiara, the mother of their two-year-old son, Brandon.

In the end the fire brigade were not required as the fire was extinguished.

Chiara added: "It was quite fortunate really because there was no real damage done. It could have been a lot worse."

The pair tied the knot at The Staincliffe Hotel, in Seaton Carew, with the help of the Mail.

The Mail told how Richard faces a constant battle for life because of a blood disorder called Wiscott-Aldridge syndrome which could kill him because it leaves him so prone to cancer and pneumonia.

Richard, who also has a daughter, Sophie, from a previous relationship, has already been told he has exceeded his life expectancy of 25-years-old.

It was the climax of five months of wedding planning for a couple whose story touched the hearts of thousands of Mail readers.