THIS is the moment makeshift firefighter Amy Stubbs cradled a helpless baby caught up in a fire drama in Southampton today.

Eleven-week-old Leo Challoner was one of six people rescued from a block of flats by Royal Navy emergency staff and striking firefighters who left their picket lines to help.

The 21-year-old Royal Navy servicewoman carried the infant to safety wrapped in a blanket helped by colleague Hayley Smith, 24.

FIREFIGHTERS were clapped and cheered by onlookers after leaving their own picket lines to answer a call to a blaze in a block of flats in Southampton.

At around 1am today the Redbridge station's White Watch saw Green Goddesses heading for a block of flats in Bransbury Close, Lordswood, where residents had been trapped in their homes by a burning carpet in the stairwell.

Dense smoke filled residents' only escape route, making life difficult for the inexperienced Green Goddess crews and their inferior equipment.

White Watch leapt into action and, despite getting the call 15 minutes after the Ministry of Defence crews, were still the first to get men into the building.

Colin Burford, Fire Brigades Union secretary for Redbridge fire station, said: "On arrival our boys jumped off and were loudly applauded by members of the public. The chaps don't want to be taking action but we have been forced into it. But we are still there for the public and it's a morale-booster to know we've got their support."

Firefighters in breathing apparatus went into the block, while others used specialised equipment to ventilate the smoke-filled stairwell.

Six people, including a baby and a young family, were led to safety by MoD officers and firefighters. One middle-aged couple had to be treated at Southampton General Hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation.

White Watch commander Jason Avery said: "We had already decided that we would attend reports of any persons trapped. We don't have an argument with the public so, without hesitation, we responded.

"We did work with MoD people but we took the lead - there's no axe to grind with them. But once there was no danger to the public, we made our way back and they cleaned up."