THE old adage is never play with fire but a car wash owner said it was doing exactly this as a child that have him the courage to save more than 20 rabbits.

Danny Colloton, 29, was the unsung saviour of the floppy eared creatures caught up in a blaze which destroyed a Marlow householder's shed last week, it has emerged.

He stopped the rabbits perishing in an Oak Tree Road garden by dousing the creatures and their pen with water before fire crews from High Wycombe arrived.

He also ensured chickens in the next garden were out of harm's way.

Mr Colloton, of St Birinus, Flackwell Heath, said:“I smelt burning and thought it was a bit early for someone to have a garden fire.

"I could see all the smoke and it was all going up then rang the fire brigade.

He said: “I went into the garden to see how bad it was going, noticed the chickens got them out and just doused the rabbits with water so they didn't burn.

“Fire doesn't bother me. I played with fire when I was younger, jumping through fires and things like that.”

It happened after 9am on Monday April 26.

Firefighting runs in Mr Colloton's blood - his grandfather, Reginald Lenharth, was a firefighter at High Wycombe Fire station.

He said: “Knowing there were lives in there, I've got a dog, I didn't want to see any animals die.

"I was just happy to save the rabbits, I'm an animal lover.”

The animals were wet and in their cages still when the crews left so he got them out, put them in fresh cages and gave them water.

The pet owner, who did not want to be named, offered her 'great thanks' to Mr Colloton and the firemen.

Mr Colloton runs the business from Marlow Football Club's ground, having moved from the Britannia Pub in Little Marlow Road.

The fire nearly spread to the club's changing rooms but crews from High Wycombe managed to stop it before it spread.