New Year's Day fire destroys family's home

The fire quickly spread after breaking out in the family's dining room

A family have lost everything after a fire spread rapidly through their home on New Year's Day.

Caroline Bland, 37, partner Mike Williams, and their three children had to leave their house in Stratton Heights near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on 1 January without even their shoes or coat after flames broke out.

The family believe the fire was caused by a portable heater.

Ms Bland was upstairs when she heard the alarm go off, she said: "The fire spread so quickly in the dining room and we tried to put it out. It was very scary."

The family, who does not have content insurance, and their two kittens managed to escape unharmed.

They were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where they were treated for shock. They are now staying in hotel.

It took firefighters about three hours to extinguish the flames.

The family were put up in a hotel in Gloucester for one night, but are unsure where they are going to stay going forward, Ms Bland said

Clothes and nappies were quickly donated by the surrounding community to Ms Bland and Mr Williams' three children, aged two, seven, and 11.

"I really can't thank you all enough," Ms Bland said.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called at 2.48pm on January 1.

"Three hose reels, one jet and ten breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire, and the stop message was received at 5.33pm," they said.

The fire service is still investigating the cause of the blaze.