AN elderly couple want to say thank you to the mystery girl who saved them after spotting smoke coming from their bungalow.

Donald Cranfield and his wife were asleep at their home in Straight Road, Colchester, when the fire broke out at about 5.50am on Monday.

It is thought a fence caught fire and the flames spread to a shed, garage and then into the eaves of the bungalow.

A young woman was walking along Straight Road when she spotted the smoke coming from the home.

She ran up and saw the flames, so quickly flagged down some people she knew who happened to be passing.

Half the group then banged on Mr Cranfield’s front door until they woke him, while others rushed to wake up neighbours.

They then moved Mr Cranfield’s car to make way for the fire engine.

Despite their heroic actions, the group quickly left once firefighters arrived, and the bungalow’s fortunate occupants are now keen to meet them.

Mr Cranfield, who is in his eighties, said: “They helped us out of the house.

“They hustled my wife and I out of the bungalow, and said we haven’t got time for anything, just a coat.

“I am eternally grateful to them, but I only know the girl’s first name, which was Tanya.”

His son Graham, who was woken by a frantic phone call from Mr Cranfield drove from Hadleigh, in Suffolk, to be with his parents.

He said: “The firefighters said it was lucky it was spotted so soon – that and the fire wall helped prevent even more damage.

“The girl had gone when I got here, but it would be nice to say thank you.”

The group’s actions have also been praised by Colchester fire station office Joe Hassell, who said: “They did a really good job of getting them out.

“Crews then worked very quickly to put out the blaze and stop it spreading any further through the bungalow.”

The garage and kitchen were badly damaged, but the rest of the bungalow suffered only minor smoke and water damage.