16231/14TWO thatched cottages on the picturesque Green in East Grafton stand in ruins after a devastating fire on Sunday night.

By Monday morning all that was left standing apart from the whitewashed walls were the spectral chimney stacks in each cottage.

These had to be pulled down using a hydraulic hoist to make the building safe for firefighters to go in and remove the still smouldering remains of the thatched roof and upper floor timbers that had collapsed.

About 100 firefighters fought to save the cottages but the blaze spread rapidly because there were no roof breaks between the cottages. Investigators are still trying to establish its cause, and suspect an electrical fault.

Neighbours dialled 999 after seeing flames leaping from a garage attached to one of the pair of cottages lived in by Maryke Craig.

They then ran to check that the occupiers were aware of the blaze. Mrs Craig was already outside and it was established that Ricky and Emma Oliver, who own the second half, had been staying at their London home with their two young children.

Dr Oliver's gardener and keyholder Christopher Pollard said: "When I arrived the smoke was just beginning to issue from the roof at this end of the cottages."

He said that while some firefighters were cutting fire breaks through the thatch, others carried all of the furniture from Dr Oliver's home.

Mr Pollard, who spent the night ensuring that Dr and Mrs Oliver's possessions were safe, said: "I was glad they were not here with their children. The building can always be replaced by insurance. Life is too precious."