FIREFIGHTERS are still investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed the roof of a Cotswold home last week.

At the height of the fire at Sydenham Farm, near Broadwell, more than 50 firefighters were at the scene trying to bring it under control and stop it spreading to the rest of the large Cotswold stone property.

Fire crews were called out in the early hours of Friday and station officer Pete Muckle, from Stow, said: "As we dropped out of Stow we could actually see the flames and the roof was well ablaze when we got there."

Crews from Stow, Moreton, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton and Northleach were called in to help fight the fire and a crew from Cheltenham was sent to cover the north Cotswolds in case of another emergency call-out.

Sydenham Farm is home to Sandra Loder, who was woken by the sound of the flames as they took hold. Investigators are still trying to decide exactly where it started.

Assistant Divisional Officer Dave Hornibrook said: "As far as we are concerned she did absolutely the right thing. She got herself out of the house, called us and stayed outside."

The first fire crews to arrive were able to pump water straight from the farm's swimming pool onto the flames, but the freezing conditions hampered efforts, as the run-off from the hoses quickly froze.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 6am and were able to control the fire.

Although the roof was destroyed and the upper floors of the three-storey farmhouse severely damaged, no one was hurt and most of Mrs Loder's belongings were rescued.

"They were very lucky," said Station Officer Muckle.

Mrs Loder has now moved out of the house and was unavailable to speak to the Journal.

But ADO Hornibrook said the extent of the damage showed the importance of installing properly-fitted smoke alarms in even the largest homes.