Family escape house blaze

Richard Bannister, who lives at the farmhouse, discovered the fire at 10.30pm yesterday and firefighters were still at the scene this morning dampening down the building.

Mr Bannister said his son and daughter, along with his son's girlfriend, were in the house when they discovered the fire.

He said no-one knew how it started and it had caused major damage to the house - leaving the family temporarily homeless.

"We don't know what caused it," he said. "Everyone was fine as we discovered it in time. It started in a wing of the house.

"We just saw the flames, and it had got going quite well. There were four of us in the house at the time.

"It was quite scary and the fire took hold quite quickly. There is quite substantial damage to the house but we haven't managed to assess it properly yet.

"I think we will probably have to move somewhere while it is being repaired but hopefully it won't take too long."

Mr Bannister said it was lucky that the fire was discovered so quickly, otherwise the consequences could have been much more serious.

"It was fortunate that nobody was injured, that's the most important thing," he added. "The fire brigade did their best to put it out.

"We discovered the fire at about 10.30pm and it was about five or six this morning that it was finally out.

"There were about six fire engines here and I would like to thank the fire brigade for doing a good job."

A spokesman for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Tweedale and Wombourne were called to the fire.

He said the aerial ladder platform was needed, and heavy pumping units from Shrewsbury and a water bowser from Bridgnorth.

The spokesman said: "There were about 40 firefighters involved in the operation overall. There is no indication of the suspected cause yet." Richard Ewels, spokesman for Shropshire police, said it was believed there were no suspicious circumstances.