A MUM has hailed her smoke alarm as a life-saver after her family had a lucky escape when fire ripped through their home.

Rachel Squibb fled from her house in Ascension Close, Popley, Basingstoke, with her three young children early on Sunday after an electrical fault is believed to have sparked a fire that completely destroyed the terraced premises.

Miss Squibb and her children Megan, seven, Riley, four, and Connor, two, were woken by the sound of one of the two smoke alarms in the house going off.

Miss Squibb, 31, said: "The smoke alarm saved our lives. If we didn't have it, we wouldn't have got out in time."

Sadly, Miss Squibb was unable to save the family's two seven-week-old kittens, Marmite and Minnie, who died in the blaze.

Miss Squibb said: "Megan and I were woken up by the smoke alarm. I went out into the hallway and it was full of smoke. I could see by looking out of the bedroom window that the flames were coming up the house. I knew if we didn't try and get out we wouldn't get another chance.

"I just grabbed the children and ran. I couldn't see for the smoke and the heat. We ran down the stairs, out of the door and onto the grass. Then all of a sudden I just saw all of the downstairs go up in flames, and all the windows smashed.

"The house has been completely destroyed and we are just devastated. We came out in just our night-clothes. We have nothing. But we are safe and that's the main thing. Material things don't matter. My three children and I have got to start again and, hopefully, it will be a good new start."

The family is now staying in temporary accommodation until their house in Ascension Close is rebuilt.

Miss Squibb added: "I didn't get to thank anyone at the time, but I can't believe how much everyone is trying to help me. I have really great neighbours, they have all chipped in for me - even sending toys for the children on Sunday. I also want to thank the two ambulance drivers who were brilliant with my children."