A Wickford family were today lucky to be alive after a father rushed his children to safety from their blazing home.

The family of four, including two adults and two children, managed to escape the blaze which engulfed the detached bungalow in Hill Avenue, Wickford, early today.

They are now believed to be living with relatives after being made homeless.

Even the youngsters' pet hamster was led to safety by firefighters, who used breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.

Two engines from Basildon and Wickford were used in the fire.

Lee Palfreyman, from Basildon fire station, said a call had come in just after 1am - crews arrived within 20 minutes.

He said: "When we turned up Wickford fire and rescue had already got the situation under control. There was just a big column of smoke rising from the roof.

"The fire was mainly confined to the roof - 50 per cent of it has completely gone - but the crews have done a pretty good job of saving the rest of the house.

"The kitchen has fallen in and has suffered quite a bit of damage, but the rest of the house is pretty much all right."

Mr Palfreyman said the man in the house was alerted to the fire when he woke up to see the electric lights flickering. He said: "Apparently, they then went off.

"The man then heard noises in the roof and suspected a fire. He got the rest of the family out in time and called 999.

"If he had not have discovered the fire at that time there might have been an element of risk - the fire could have spread downwards into the house."

The family were today said to be staying with relatives nearby. The blaze is not being treated as suspicious.

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