Firefighters look over the damage at the cottage in Onibury. Picture by James Watkins.

A neighbour helped a woman to safety as fire ripped through the thatched roof of a 16th century cottage, gutting the first floor and sending plumes of smoke billowing across a Shropshire village.

Matt Connolly ran to the home in Onibury, near Craven Arms, to alert the occupier after spotting the flames. 

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He helped the woman, who was unaware of the fire, to quickly grab any possessions before getting her out of the cottage as the blaze raged on Saturday night.

Mr Connolly said today: “She was pottering around inside her home, unaware that the roof was on fire.

“I asked her about pets and any treasured possession which we quickly grabbed. As we got outside other neighbours were appearing to help and they took over looking after the lady. 

“It is a good job the fire was in the early evening or it may not have been spotted so quickly.”

Today the owners of the property, a couple, were too devastated to speak. 

But neighbours described seeing the sky “a glow” and flames up to 10ft high after the blaze which started about 6.40pm on Saturday. 

Roy Woodsford, fire officer in charge of Craven Arms, said: “It was a fire on the first floor of a thatched cottage. The roof was alight on arrival. We endeavoured to put it out. It was a difficult job due to the material of the roof. The roof has gone and there is fire damage on the first floor.” 

Mr Woodsford said the fire was under control by just after 10pm but firefighters remained at the scene through the night and well into yesterday to check heat spots. 

He said: “We are salvaging now and pulling the thatch away and making it safe. We are salvaging the owners’ belongings as much as can. 

“All the soft furnishings will be destroyed. The lady was at home but the gentleman was 180 miles away at work and he came back. She had a problem with her mobile phone and one of the neighbours rang the fire brigade. 

“At this point we do not know how the fire started. Fire investigators will be here and full investigations will be carried out. It was a severe fire. The owners are understandably very upset.”

By Rebecca Lawrence