A COUPLE in their 70s and a family of six fled in terror after flames ripped through their terraced homes in Southampton today.

The blaze, which has completely gutted both properties, broke out early today in Sedbergh Road, Millbrook.

Teenager Rachel Corrigan, 13, who lives in one of the houses, had to clamber out of her first floor bedroom window and on to a porch to escape the fire. She was taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Her younger siblings, aged five, seven and nine, and her parents escaped the blaze unhurt.

The family's next door neighbours, pensioners Peter and Elsie Lacey had lived there ever since the homes were built in 1952. They are now staying with their daughter.

More than 40 firefighters from stations in Winchester, Eastleigh, St Mary's, Totton and Redbridge were called to the scene at 12.07am.

A total of 26 breathing apparatus were used as a search was carried out inside the properties.

An aerial ladder platform, an incident command unit and jets and hose reels were also used to bring the fire under control.

Lyn Eliles, a neighbour who took in the Corrigan family, said: "I heard kids from one of the houses next to the house on fire, screaming and I went outside.

"I saw the 13-year-old coming out of the window and I was terrified. The two younger ones were still inside. There were flames, but mainly thick black smoke. The biggest concern for everyone here was how quickly the fire spread."

Lyn's husband Peter, 46, added: "One of the firefighters said if this had happened two weeks ago when there was strong winds they would have had to evacuate the whole area.

"If the fire had started two hours later everyone would have been sound asleep. Nobody would have got out."

Fire investigators were returning to the scene today to examine the debris in the hope of discovering the cause of the fire.