A policeman is to get a national honour today after he battled smoke and flames in a bid to rescue two teenage girls from a house fire.

Acting Sgt Tim Bott will meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street and then attend the prestigious Police Bravery Awards at The Dorchester hotel in London.

He joins nominees from across England and Wales.

It comes after the Kent policeman forced the front door of a home in Hampton Vale, Seabrook in November 2008, after hearing two teenage girls were trapped inside.

He fought back smoke, but was driven back by the searing heat - even a kitchen door was impassable due to the blaze.

But Acting Sgt Bott was able to help firefighters find the trapped youngsters, and hold on to a ladder for rescuers as windows exploded all around.

The officer was later treated for smoke inhalation.

Ian Pointon, chairman of Kent Police Federation, said: "Those who know Tim are not surprised that he did what he did.

"He acted selflessly in the interests of others and he is a credit to Kent Police."

But the PC played down his heroics: "I just did what I had to do. I'm sure any of my colleagues would have done the same."

Mr Bott has already been given a Chief Constable's Commendation for bravery, and an award from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

But he is no stranger to honours. In 1995 he was commended when he tried to save the life of a man attempting to commit suicide in the Cayman Islands.

And in 1999 he was awarded after rescuing a mentally unstable woman who was attempting to commit suicide from a rooftop.