A 35-year-old mother-of-three woken by a loud bang found an alleged drink driver slurring his words after crashing into her daughter's bedroom.

A Hamilton man is being hailed a hero after rescuing a badly burned boy from an explosion caused by a lit cigarette.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man died when a drinking session dissolved into violence early today.

Police believe the same brazen beanie-wearing bank robber is responsible for four hold-ups in the past few weeks.