A BRAVE builder who rescued two dogs from a burning house in Caldicot this week has spoken of his actions.

Ryan Cole, who works for his father's construction company, said: "I was working around the corner, in Clos Aled, and [my dad] shouted that a house was on fire.

"We all ran to have a look. The back window was blown off and big flames were coming out of it.

"I instantly thought the worst – that someone was trapped inside – so I jumped over three fences to get into the back garden, and was banging on the patio doors to see if anyone was in."

Determined to look for any occupants inside, Mr Cole entered the smoke-filled house by breaking down the front door.

"I jumped into the house, holding my top around my mouth because the smoke was awful," he said.

"I was screaming to see if anyone was in there, but I couldn't hear anything other than the fire, so I came out of the house and one of the neighbours told me there were two dogs inside the kitchen."

Mr Cole immediately turned around to go back into the burning house, and eventually found the dogs, which were cowering in a utility room.

"The two dogs were just sat there in silence," he said. "They looked so scared.

"I opened the utility door and we left safely from the other side of the house.

"One of the neighbours took the dogs, and then the first fire [engine] turned up between five and ten minutes later.

"By that time the whole house was consumed in black fumes."

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Caldicot, Chepstow, Maindee and Duffryn to tackle the blaze.

A spokesman for the fire service said the fire had spread over two stories across bedroom and attic space.

On Tuesday, Mr Cole was visited by the dogs' owner, who brought the dogs along as she thanked him for saving the family's beloved pets.

"She gave me a hug, and she was over the moon with what I did," Mr Cole said. "she was asking how she could thank me.

"I just said 'you've lost a lot of stuff right now' – I'm just happy I was working here to help you be able to keep your lovely dogs.""

He added: "She was a lovely lady.

"She was just happy her and all her family are safe."