A QUICK-THINKING mother rescued her two young children from a house fire minutes before it engulfed their home.

Jayne Willis, of Windermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester, said: ""I've lost everything, but I haven't lost my babies."

She was at home with one-year-old Mckenzi and four-year-old Jordan when a smoke alarm alerted her to the fire, which started in the television set in the lounge at about 10.30am yesterday.

The 41-year-old, who was in another room, rushed into the room, and ran outside.

Minutes later, the house was engulfed by flames.

Speaking outside as firefighters investigated, she said tearfully: "I walked in the front room and saw the smoke so grabbed the little ones and ran out of the house.

"There was a small lot of smoke and by the time I came out to get the fire extinguisher and come back in it was everywhere and I couldn't see. There was black smoke everywhere.

"Everything was so fast. All I know is it went up and went up fast.

"I'm angry and shocked."

Miss Wallis said her three other children, 10-year-old Reece, nine-year-old Tammi and seven-year-old Conni were thankfully at school when the fire happened.

Firefighters extinguished the fire within an hour, but it caused severe damage to the house.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Alec Mackie said the family was lucky to escape.

"The fire spread to other combustible materials that burn very quickly and caused a lot of smoke and fire," he said.

"Had it happened at night it might have been a different tale.

"Thankfully the smoke alarms worked and it alerted her.

"She did very well to do what she did."

However, Mr Mackie said the service did not recommend people going back into a burning building.

Police were on hand to divert traffic and Red Cross victim support volunteers were also there to assist Miss Wallis.

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