A 12-YEAR-old girl has been praised for potentially saving lives after spotting a fire in a block of flats in Runcorn.

Fire crews were called to a suspected arson in Plantation Close on Saturday, which originated in the stairway.

Catherine Price, 12, who lives opposite the flats was the first to raise the alarm.

She said: "I was watching the TV and I turned to look out of the window and saw it.

"I called 999 and passed the phone to my mum.

"I saw a lady running out with a baby and she was crying.

"I ran to help her and bought her into the house."

Paul Petersen, along with John Price, helped to alert people and evacuate the building.

Paul, a resident living near to where the fire began, said: "I was sat in my living room watching TV.

"I'd heard a lot of commotion outside and then I heard the banging on the door and it was a policeman saying we needed to evacuate now."

Paul offered police help in evacuating the building and started banging on doors to alert residents.

He remembered: "It just happened that quickly there wasn't time to think.

"It was good because the neighbours all know each other so we helped each other out."

Paul praised the actions of Catherine for calling the fire crews so quickly and potentially saving lives.

A total of four people were checked over by paramedics suffering from smoke inhalation and two casualties were taken to hospital as a precaution.

This fire came just days before another arson attack on Kyujutsu Archery Club in Catlefield Avenue East close by.

If anyone has any information about either of these incidents please contact Cheshire Police on 101 or provide details online.