A WOMAN rescued from a burning house in Winchester has praised the city's firefighters for risking their lives to save her pet dogs.

The four terriers were scooped up by crews wearing breathing apparatus after the terrified owner realised the animals were trapped in her front room as fire threatened to engulf the property on Tuesday afternoon.

Alison Ayling called 999 after her six-month-old tumble drier started making strange noises and then burst into flames.

Firefighters arrived soon afterwards and although Mrs Ayling and her two children, George, 14, and nine-year-old Billy, had escaped the house in Wavell Way, the dogs were still stuck inside the house.

Smoke Crews initially thought the animals, a Jack Russell terrier, a West Highland terrier and two cross breeds would be safe as the fire was small and several rooms away from where they were.

But as smoke began to fill the entire house, firefighters decided to get the terriers out before they breathed in too much smoke.

Two firefighters found the dogs cowering in the front room and carried them to safety.

Speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, Mrs Ayling, 44, said: "It was a complete surprise to see the tumble drier burst into flames and my first thought was just to get the children out and call for help.

"As the smoke started filling the house the firefighters said they needed to get the dogs out and they just put on their gear and walked straight in.

"We would just like to thank them so much for risking their lives to save the dogs, and to the police officers as well who were really supportive and helpful."

A spokesman for Winchester Fire Station, said: "Mrs Ayling did the right thing in getting her family out and calling for help.

Happy "We knew the dogs were in there and as the smoke was getting pretty heavy we knew we had to get them out.

"They certainly looked pretty happy once we had got them into the back garden and, although it's always nice to hear people thank us, we were just doing our job."