A MUM-OF-FOUR has spoken of a terrifying ordeal on New Year's Day when an arson attack forced the family to flee for their lives.

Becky Phelps, 23, told The Gazette that she and her children only managed to escape from their Basingstoke home because they were alerted to the fire in the hallway by a newly-fitted smoke alarm.

Miss Phelps' ordeal began shortly after 10pm when someone set alight to the front door of the terraced house in Westray Close, Oakridge, while she watched TV downstairs as her three eldest children - Shannon, six, Ryan, five, and Shayla, three - slept upstairs.

"The living room door was shut but I heard the smoke alarm go off in the hallway," she said. "I then found that the hallway was full of smoke, so I called to my three children to come down from upstairs. I got my nine-month-old baby, Jake, out of his cot downstairs and took the children through the back door and into the garden.

"I went back indoors to see if I could control it but the fumes were so bad that I had to get out.

"I was really scared and still feel shaken that someone tried to harm me and my children. My kids thought they were going to die."

Neighbours who rushed to the scene had to aid Miss Phelps and her children by helping them over a tall fence surrounding the rear of the property.

Eleven firefighters arrived at 10.20pm and tackled the fire, which damaged the front door and hall floor, and caused smoke damage downstairs.

Miss Phelps, who stayed with relatives following the fire, said that the smoke alarm had been fitted in her hallway just a month ago. She added: "Whoever did this to us is sick - it hasn't been a good start to the new year. I would say to anyone who doesn't have a smoke alarm that they should definitely get one."

Detective Sergeant Steve Cook, of Basingstoke CID, said: "This was a very dangerous act.

"The property is a terrace so the fire could have spread to other properties.

"The smoke alarm that went off probably saved lives."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service offers free home safety checks to anyone who would like advice on fitting a smoke alarm. Call 01256 818885 for further information.

A 25-year-old Basingstoke man has been arrested and bailed by police in connection with the incident. Anyone with information should contact Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 45 45.