Two police officers have rescued an elderly woman and her dog from a burning house in south Manchester.

The officers, who are from the Stockport division, were on patrol at 2.45am on Friday 3 July 2009, when they noticed smoke coming from a house.

The fire service was notified, but the fire was well alight and the officers were concerned that people were inside the property.

They broke the door down and went inside, where they rescued a woman, believed to be aged in her 70s. Once the woman was out of the house, one of the officers went back inside to save her dog.

The men then evacuated the properties next door in case the fire spread.

Inspector David Sutcliffe from Stockport Neighbourhood Task Force said: "These two officers clearly went above and beyond the call of duty, putting themselves in very real danger to rescue this woman from the fire. They acted on instinct and I believe saved this woman's life and are without a doubt a credit to the Force."

The victim and two officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.