A BRAVE member of public jumped into action after he saw smoke billowing from a petrol station tumble dryer as he feared the whole place could go up in flames.

Have-a-go hero Daniel Palmer, 39, stopped at the JET garage in Ashingdon Road, Rochford, on Christmas eve for a car wash.

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As he walked into the station shop, he saw smoke coming from behind the stock room door.

Echo: Have-a-go hero Daniel PalmerHave-a-go hero Daniel Palmer (Image: Daniel Palmer)

“I could see smoke coming out and thought it didn’t look right so I grabbed a member of staff to have a look”, the Hockley resident said.

“I could see the panic on his face when he realised it was quite bad. He started shouting for the other members of staff to come and help.

“They opened the door and smoke came billowing out from behind a set of metal doors where the  tumble dryers are stored.”

The garage boasts a 24-hour self-service laundrette, adjacent to the petrol station shop.

Echo: The laundrette closed after the incidentThe laundrette closed after the incident (Image: Daniel Palmer)

Mr Palmer says staff were struggling to find keys for the door, so he ran to his van to retrieve a crowbar.

“I smashed the doors open and all this smoke came pouring out, it was crazy.”

Panicked customers began running for their cars, as the room began to fill with smoke, Mr Palmers says.

Echo: Fire crews arrive on the sceneFire crews arrive on the scene (Image: Daniel Palmer)

“It was bedlam inside. The shop was filling up with smoke, people were panicking, some were running to get in their cars and get out of there.

“Nobody wants to be near a petrol station that goes up in flames.”

After using extinguishers on the tumble dryer, the smoke began to fade, just before the fire brigade arrived at about 2.45pm.

Echo: 'Thank you' - The prosecco he was gifted for his actions'Thank you' - The prosecco he was gifted for his actions (Image: Daniel Palmer)

Fire crews assessed the scene, made sure it was safe, and left fifteen minutes later.

“The manager shook my hand and let me pick a bottle of prosecco from the fridge,” Mr Palmer said.

“It made for a good story around the dinner stable on Christmas day, but I reckon my family are a little tired of hearing it now!"

An Essex Police spokesman said: “The fire service were called to reports of smoke issuing from a tumble dryer next to a garage on Ashington Road, Rochford on Saturday, December 24 at 2.45pm.

“Firefighters found no sign of fire and left the scene in the care of the on-site staff. Crews left at 3pm.”