A MOTHER and her two young children fled their blazing top storey tower block flat after it was torched while they slept.

Terrified Maxine Cox, 20, scooped up Kayleigh, five, and two-year-old Leon, after waking up at just after midnight to find her 15 storey high flat engulfed in smoke.

Arsonists had torched the front door barring the family's exit and forcing them to flee through an outside fire escape leading to a neighbour's flat where they took refuge.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led 12 residents of Sturminster House in Irvine Road, Millbrook, Southampton, to safety through thick black smoke yesterday morning.

It took more than an hour to extinguish the flames. Distressed Maxine said: "It was my worst nightmare. I thought we were going to be trapped at the top of the tower block and that my children and me were going to die.

"When I heard the fire alarm I just clicked into auto pilot. I knew I had to get my kids and get out. I grabbed them and raced out. The smoke was very thick and it was hard to breath.

"Now that it's all over it's starting to sink in. If I hadn't woken up I dread to think what would have happened,'' she added.

Police have revealed that an accelerant was used to start the fire and are treating it as suspicious. An investigation has been launched.

Detective Sergeant Richard Rowledge said: "The family were very lucky to get out alive, it could have easily been much worse.''

Many residents ended up on the roof of the tower block after using their fire escapes and were escorted by firefighters safely to the ground.

Mother of two Nicola Wilson, 26, allowed Maxine and her children to stay the night at her flat. She said: "Maxine was terrified and she was very tearful. The kids looked absolutely petrified.

"It's hard to believe someone is dangerous enough to set fire to a block that is mainly for women and children. Whoever did this is sick."

A Hampshire firefighter based at Redbridge Fire Station said: "They only got out by the skin of their teeth. It could have so easily cost them their lives. It appears the flat was fire bombed.''