GAZETTE & HERALD: A family of five had a lucky escape after a fire swept through their loft last Thursday night.

Fire fighters said if the blaze had started a couple of hours later when they were asleep, none of the family would be here today.

Cathy Sett was at home in Sheppards Close, Chippenham cooking dinner for her three sons David, 24, Sam 17, Oliver, 15, when the fire started. Her partner Pete Carroll, who owns a concrete production company, had gone to the shops to buy her some cigarettes.

Sam was the first to notice a light in the loft and when all the family went to investigate they realised it was on fire. They ran out of the house and dialled 999.

Minutes later Mr Carroll returned from the shops.

"I was walking back and all these cars were screeching up at the back of the house. People were saying a house was on fire and I realised it was my house.

"All the neighbours were brilliant they were asking 'what can we do?' They were offering to do washing and put us up.

"I ran into the house to see if there was anything I could do but there wasn't. I managed to grab some photos but the flames were coming through the loft hatch by then," said Mr Carroll.

Fire fighters from Chippenham and Corsham arrived moments later and had the fire under control within minutes.

"They were so professional. Instead of squirting loads of water they squirted bits here and there. One lot went inside and the second lot went on the roof. They were putting sheets over everything to protect all our stuff. They were there until around 1am and they even started brushing stuff up on the way out. I really want to thank all of them, they saved so many of our things," said Mr Carroll.

The fire was contained within the loft but the roof will now have to be completely rebuilt which could take up to five months.

"We had everything in the loft. We had all the children's baby toys and their schools books. Every year since David's second birthday we have been buying him a train set and they were all in the loft. He was really upset about them. Everything we put in the loft we wanted to keep," said Mr Carroll.

The family said they wanted to thank their neighbours for their kindness and people they had never seen before had been helping them out.

"One guy jumped through the hedge and grabbed hold of me to stop me going back inside.

"I don't know who he was but I want to thank him.

"It was a good job I didn't go inside again.

"The fireman said in a couple of minutes the whole roof would have collapsed. They got to it just in time."

The family are now living in a hotel whilst they try to find short-term rented accommodation.

Oliver said he was longing to play his drums, which luckily were not damaged in the fire but he would have to wait until they had somewhere rented to live.

"The insurance company have been fantastic. I would say to people make sure you keep up your insurance payments," said Mr Carroll.

Fire officers are still investigating the cause of the fire but believe it was started by an electrical fault possibly animals chewing through wires in the loft.