A Newcastle man ran into his burning house on Tuesday to save his best friend – his dog Ditch.

Mark Woodbury ducked down to shops for 10 minutes to get some supplies for a fishing trip, but when he returned home he noticed smoke billowing from a back window.

Mark Woodbury with his dog Ditch. Credit:Cath Bowen

"The first thing I thought of was Ditch. There was no way I was going to let my dog burn to death," he said.

He raced into the house, but was twice forced back by heat and blinding smoke.