THE family of Gill Barter, the young mum murdered by her long-time partner two years ago, has lost everything in a catastrophic fire at their home yesterday morning (Wedesday).

It took little more than 15 minutes for the blaze to sweep through the terraced house in Commercial Road, Devizes, destroying everything in the house, including mementos of Miss Barter that had been kept by her mother, Maggie.

The family's pet terrier dog, Sheba, died in the fire.

Mrs Barter had left the house yesterday morning to take her granddaughter Megan, Gill's four-year-old daughter, to pre-school, leaving her daughter Ellen, 21, in bed.

Her eldest daughter Sharon, 31, called at the house and saw smoke in the hallway. She said: "As soon as I opened the door, the house exploded in flames. I shouted to Ellen to get up and managed to drag her out of the house."

Ellen was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene.

The crew of a fire appliance with a learner driver at the wheel, which was passing the house, raised the alarm. Firefighters were quickly on the scene but there was nothing they could do to save contents of the house or the dog.

Sharon Barter said: "I don't know what we're going to do. Mum is distraught. It was the last thing she needed.

"I haven't told Ellen about the dog yet. She is going to be devastated."

The first next-door neighbour Pauline Webb knew of the blaze was when she heard a loud explosion.

She said: "I ran outside and saw flames gushing from the building. I saw the two girls were out and hoped that no-one had been hurt.

"The fire brigade was on the scene very quickly but the fire had really taken hold."

Five fire crews attended the scene, two from Devizes, two from Melksham and one from Cooper Avon in Melksham.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus used two high pressure hose reels to put out the fire, but the damage to the ground and first floors was extensive.

Mrs Barter, her daughter Ellen, and little Megan spent last night at Sharon's home in Devizes.

Homes @Kennet, the housing advisory service, said it is actively looking for temporary accommodation for the family until the house can be repaired.