A retired firefighter was left stunned on his 90th birthday when he was reunited with the baby whose life he saved 40 years ago.

Brian Passmore never forgot that fateful day in 1986 when he rescued baby Carly Holden from a burning home in Blackpool, Lancs. Now a mum-of-five, Carly had kept cuttings of the rescue for decades - but she and Brian had never met until his milestone birthday party.

Brian, who served with the Lancashire Fire Service for more than 25 years and now lives in a care home, thought he was heading out for a quiet lunch with daughter Julie Henderson. Instead, he walked into a room full of friends - and was surprised by an emotional reunion with Carly.

placeholder image — Blackpool Gazette archive / SWNS

The celebrations were complete with a birthday cake bearing a picture taken soon after the rescue. Julie said: "It was a total surprise and dad was absolutely delighted. He has often said that saving baby Carly that day was the highlight of his firefighting career and last year when he was not so well, he said he wondered where Carly was now.

"I tracked her down via social media, living in Blackpool with five children of her own, and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to surprise dad. She has a memory box of cuttings among the rescue."

Also at the party was Brian's former colleague Mick Goodson, who helped saved Carly's late mum Cathy from the blaze. Like Brian, Mick had no idea Carly would be there. Brian joined the fire brigade in January 1962 and took early retirement in 1988 following a back injury.

He was a sub officer at the time of the fire, which started in a lower ground apartment, trapping Carly and her mum in the top-floor flat. Carly said: "It was wonderful to meet Brian and share in his 90th birthday celebrations."