Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici has congratulated two police constables who this morning rescued a woman who was trapped by fire in her home in Marsascala .

The incident happened shortly before 8.30 a.m.

The two traffic policemen, Constables Robert Vassallo and Kenneth Camilleri, who were on their way to the Prime Minister's residence to escort him to the Victory Day celebrations, noticed smoke coming out of the house and rushed to give assistance.

They entered the house from the wash room and found a woman, 54, cowering in a landing below, unable to find the stairs. She was alone in the home at the time.

Such was the amount of smoke that the officers could not find their way back until PC Camilleri broke open a window and they managed to get out.

The woman needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation while PC Camilleri needed stitches to his hand.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici praised the policemen for risking their own lives to rescue the woman and said their actions reflected the values of the police corps to serve and protect the people.

He thanked the Police force and the Department of Civil Protection for their work in what had proved to be a busy summer.