February 21, 2001 9:12: FIREFIGHTERS braved a blazing converted chapel to rescue two six-week old pups and their mum.

Two appliances from High Wycombe attended the fire at The Old Chapel, a derelict building in City Road, Radnage, at around midday on Thursday.

The fire service was alerted to the inferno by Barry Scales, the landlord of nearby pub The Crown, after two women on horseback spotted the fire.

Leading firefighter Bob Westover said: "Firefighters had to fight their way in. The fire burnt out 100 per cent of the living room."

Firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the building and rescue the three dogs, but a third puppy died in the incident.

An ambulance service spokesman said the puppies suffered from smoke inhalation, a singed coat and said they were "cold and wet".

It is thought the dogs belonged to a man who occasionally looked after the property on behalf of its owner.

RSPCA officer David Hobbs was called to the scene to deal with the dogs, which were Jack Russell cross-breeds.

He said: "When I arrived I found the owner had returned to collect the dogs and had taken them to a friend's house nearby.

"I went to see if the puppies were suffering any ill-effects and found the mother and the two surviving puppies were unharmed."