A Bristol mother is today at the centre of a police investigation over child neglect after her three young children were found home alone when a fire broke out.

Her neighbour has told how he dashed into her smoke-filled house in Bristol to save her baby girl, aged one, who was home alone with her two sisters, aged two and three.

Unemployed gardener Rob Sullivan ran into the kitchen of the semi-detached council house in Southmead to discover plastic plates burning on the cooker.

He removed the melting plates before racing upstairs to find a baby girl crying in her cot.

Mr Sullivan, 49, said: "The smoke was pretty dense. It was difficult to see. I was holding my breath.

"I picked up the baby, who was distressed.

"I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't have found her.

"I think she's lucky to be alive.

"I don't see myself as a hero – I just followed

my instincts." Mr Sullivan's partner, Julie Dyer, 34, a mother of six, said she saw two young children wandering about in Westleigh Road clutching their dollies yesterday morning at about 10am.

She said: "My instincts told me that something wasn't right. They were just wandering up and down the road. I went over and asked them where their mum was and they said they didn't know."

Ms Dyer went to the front door, which was wide open, and shouted to see if there was anyone in but heard no reply. Then she saw the smoke.

"I went back to my house with the two children and said I was worried there was a baby in the house," she added.

Mr Sullivan dashed over the road and went to the house while Ms Dyer phoned the fire service.

After rescuing the baby, the couple looked after the three children until police arrived.

"The baby was in a state and her nappy was sopping wet," said Ms Dyer.

She believes the children put the plates on the cooker.

Police were today investigating how long the children had been alone in the house. It is believed the mother of the children arrived back at the home up to an hour after the fire, when she was arrested by police on suspicion of child neglect.

Officers took away the children so they could be looked after by social services.

No one was injured in the incident and there was no significant damage to the property.

Firefighters praised Mr Sullivan for his actions. Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Stephanie Mounsey said: "Fortunately, the fire did not result in anyone being injured.

"However, had the fire developed while the children were asleep, the smoke alarms, which were not working, would not have alerted them to the fire.

"Avon Fire and Rescue Service would like to commend the actions of Mr Sullivan, who put the safety of the one-year-old girl before his own by entering the house on fire.

"We would advise members of the public never to risk their life by entering a property on fire and to dial 999 and leave it to the professionals."

Avon and Somerset police spokesman Wayne Baker said: "A baby rescued from the property and two young children who left the house are being cared for by social services and relatives. A woman in her mid 20s has been arrested and is helping police with their inquires."

Last night police said the woman has been released on police bail.