WHEN bus driver Chris Gorton saw flames licking around the thatched roof of Mark and Laura’s cottage, the easiest thing in the world would have been to carry on driving and concentrate on his own job.

He could have minded his own business, worried about his own cares and thought only of himself.

Instead he raced from his cab not only to warn the family but hang around to help tackle the blaze until firefighters arrived to take over from him.

By the time owner Mark arrived at the cottage in Uffcott from where he was working nearby, Chris had trained a hosepipe on the chimney to help keep the flames at bay.

The grateful family are in no doubt that his actions saved the fire from causing even more damage than it did.

If it had been allowed to continue spreading, with Laura, her friend and their children inside unaware, for another half an hour, the whole building might have been lost to the flames.

As it is the family face at least two months of rebuilding work. But not a day of those months will pass without a grateful thought for their hero bus driver.

Modestly, he didn’t even wait around for the family’s thanks after the fire brigade arrived on Thursday afternoon.

It was only when Mark waited by the side of the road for his bus to pass by yesterday that he was able to flag him down and thank him for his actions.

Of course Chris was not the only hero of the day. Nine fire crews from Westlea, Stratton, Calne, Cricklade, Chippenham, Corsham and Royal Wootton Bassett used their skill and experience to contain the fire and ensure that Chris’ quick thinking did not go to waste.

It is a timely reminder that we are lucky to have them looking out for us.