The report on Rob Thomson, headmaster of West Blatchington Junior School, who was hailed a hero after single-handedly tackling a fire, made my blood boil. Surely he acted in the exact opposite way the fire brigade would recommend, which is to get yourself and anyone else in the area out of the building, call the fire brigade and stay put.

Instead of safeguarding the safety of his staff and pupils, Mr Thomson entered the boiler room where the caretaker had smelt smoke. One assumes he opened the door - something which in itself can be extremely hazardous during a fire - and proceeded to tackle the electrical fire himself.

Councillor Mark Barnard goes on to praise Mr Thomson for the "prompt action which saved his school" but shouldn't the headmaster's priorities have been making the children's welfare paramount?

-Mrs Ruth Lawson, Sea Saw Way, Brighton