Five people who risked their lives to save others are counting on your votes after being nominated for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service's community awards.

The humble heroes went "above and beyond" to help rescue others in need in four separate incidents.

They are on a shortlist for the Humberside Fire and Rescue Local Hero Award, sponsored by FireAngel.

Each nominee has been put forward either by the person they helped save, a family member or friend, or an employee of the fire service.

After reading about the incredible acts of bravery, readers can vote for who they think is most deserving of the award by either text, phone call, email or post.

'Right place at the right time': Bill Todd

(send the word 'CAR' to vote)

A fishing trip to Spurn Point turned into a rescue mission for Bransholme resident Mr Todd.

The 66-year-old was heading out to the seaside on February 10 when he saw a car skid, flip over and land in a ditch.

The icy conditions meant the car was hard to control and the thick undergrowth next to the ditch meant the upturned vehicle would not be seen from the road.

Bill, of Lanyon Close, said: "I was near the village of Patrington when I saw a car coming towards me.

"It skidded, went to the wrong side of the road, then back to the other side, hit the verge, flew in the air and landed upside down in the water.

"I was glad I saw it happen because it was so far back off the road, you wouldn't have seen the car. It was snowing really heavily at this point."

Bill, who worked as a fireman for more than 30 years, stopped to help and saw five-year-old Ethan trapped in the back of the vehicle, which was rapidly filling with water.

His mother, Victoria Bell, managed to scramble out of the car, but was soaked in dirty ditch water.

Bill said: "I stopped a man on the road and together we managed to get the back door open.

"We got the little boy out and he had a little bit of blood on his lip, but other than that he was okay."

The other man then left but Bill kept Ethan and Victoria warm in his car while they waited for help to arrive.

Later, Victoria's husband Philip rang to thank him for saving his family.

Bill added: "When the fire brigade told me I was up for an award I was amazed.

"I think there are more deserving cases than mine, I just knew what to do and was in the right place at the right time.

"It is just an instinct to help people."

Pair dragged woman from burning car: Dave Upton and Steve Blakeston

(Send 'A63' to vote)

The two friends were returning from a fishing trip when they stopped to pull a young woman from a burning car, moments before it exploded.

The men, both aged 52 at the time, were travelling eastbound on the A63 in May when tragedy struck on the other side of the road.

The men saw two vehicles on fire near the exit for South Cave and stopped to help.

They smashed the window of a blue Peugeot and pulled the 19-year-old driver out, seconds before the vehicle exploded.

Mr Upton, of Ferry Road in Hessle, and Mr Blakeston, of Cottesmore Road in west Hull, didn't realise anyone else was in the car and were devastated to learn the young female passenger was killed in the blaze.

Speaking to the Mail in May, Mr Upton said: "I pulled over and we jumped the barrier. We tried the car door but it had jammed on impact, so Steve kicked the driver's side window in.

"Then we tried to get the seatbelt undone, but we couldn't.

"I had a small pocket knife because I'd been fishing and managed to cut it off with that."

The duo are now humble about the news they have been nominated for an award.

Mr Blakeston said: "I feel very humble and honoured.

"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary and did what anyone else would have done at the time.

"I have two daughters aged 18 and 21 and I keep thinking it could have been them in the car."

Mr Blakeston said he regularly drives along the A63 and can still see where the accident happened, as several bollards are missing.

He added: "I think we are both the same, we appreciate it if people think what we did is worthy of an award but we were just in the right place at the right time."

Jalal Hassan jumped into the River Hull to rescue two people struggling in the water.

Most difficult moment of my life: Jalal Hassan

(Send the word 'RIVER' to vote)

Mr Hassan had been to the sorting office to collect some post when he heard cries for help from the River Hull.

The 21-year-old, who manages Larino's takeaway in Beverley Road, west Hull, hadn't been swimming in years, but felt he had to help out when he spotted two men in difficulty last year.

Mr Hassan , who lives in Beverley Road, said: "I saw two people in the water near Malmo Road in east Hull.

"One was in the water and only the back of his shirt was showing. The other man was flapping about, he was trying to help the first man but then got into difficulty himself.

"I wouldn't have felt comfortable walking away so I went to where a crowd was gathered on the side, took my coat and shirt off and went in."

Mr Hassan managed to pull the first man to safety. He was unconscious, but was taken to hospital and later recovered.

The second man who had gone in to save him had already returned to the shore when Mr Hassan turned round to go back.

Mr Hassan said: "It was the most difficult moment of my life.

"I was holding the drowning man above the water so he could breathe, but then that meant my mouth was underwater.

"I haven't been swimming since I was in Kurdistan and I moved over to England about five years ago, so it has been a while.

"When the police and emergency services turned up they had all their safety equipment and life jackets ready. They couldn't believe I had gone in the muddy water with my shirt off."

Speaking about his nomination, Mr Hassan added: "I didn't do it to get a reward.

"I did it because I am a Muslim and in my religion it is your duty as a human to care for other people.

"I was very happy when I found out I had been chosen."

Children pulled from fire: Trevor Gilbert

(Send the word 'HOUSE' to vote)

Lorry driver Mr Gilbert leapt out of bed to save a family from a house fire.

The 38-year-old was awoken to loud screams outside his Goole home on June 26.

He quickly pulled on jeans and ran out to his neighbour's house and realised the family were trapped inside.

Mr Gilbert, who lives in Mill View Court, ran over to his friends' house in Carlisle Street and managed to pull four of the seven occupants from the burning building.

He said: "I heard the kids screaming and thought 'gosh they are up early' but then they screamed in a way I knew something was wrong.

"I ran to the front of the house and saw the flames and smoke coming out.

"I managed to pull Jack and Cole from the downstairs window while I was stood on the garden wall.

"I knew from the way I was stood I couldn't take an adult's weight so I ran back to mine to fetch a ladder.

"I put it against the upstairs window and pulled out the adults, Sam and Eric."

Sam Black, 30, her partner Eric Thompson, 30, and their children, twins Cole and Calli, both four, and Jack, two, were in the house along with Sam's children from a previous relationship, Caitlin, 11, and Taisain, nine.

Luckily, the children Mr Gilbert didn't pull out managed to escape from the other side of the house.

Mr Gilbert said: "Everyone stayed in my house and when the fire brigade arrived they brought over oxygen bottles.

"They all went to hospital but Eric was in quite a bad way, so I know it was a worrying time for Sam."

Luckily, the whole family have recovered from their ordeal and living in a new property in Edinburgh Street.

The family has since been told the fire most probably started with an electric fault in the UV lamp used to keep their pet bearded dragon warm, which did not survive the blaze.

Miss Black said: "Trevor is a very brave man as it was a very scary situation to be in. Without him I probably wouldn't have my family here today."

How to vote:

To vote for Bill Todd send the word 'car', for Dave Upton and Steve

Blakeston send 'A63', for Jalal Hassan send 'river' and for Trevor

Gilbert send 'house'.

Send the voting word to

localhero@humbersidefire.gov.uk, text or leave at answering machine

message on 07970 957146 or post your vote to Local Hero, FREEPOST

NEA3601, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Hull, HU4 7BR.

Entries

must be received by September 1.

The winner will be announced at

a special awards ceremony on September 30 at the Country Park Inn in

Hessle.

Humber Fire and Rescue Service: www.humbersidefire.gov.uk