Families flee house blaze in Knighton
Families in a row of terraced houses were forced to flee in their pyjamas after a fire broke out in a first-floor bedroom.
Families in a row of terraced houses were forced to flee in their pyjamas after a fire broke out in a first-floor bedroom.
Emergency services evacuated the adjoining houses leaving neighbours to watch helplessly as the roof of the home caved in.
It is believed the fire may have been caused by a lit cigerette.
Dozens of firefighters were called to the blaze in Laurels Meadow, Knighton, on the Shropshire/Powys border, which broke out at about 6.20am on Saturday.
The people who lived at the address, named locally as Ceri Steadman, her boyfriend Callum Brown and their friend Neil Williams, are believed to be staying with friends after escaping the blaze. No-one was injured.
Matthew Davies lives two doors down and called 999 when he was woken by an explosion. He said: "The explosion was the first window coming out. There must have been 9ft flames. Callum had been trying to put the flames out with buckets of water."
A Mid and West Wales Fire Service spokeswoman said: "The adjacent property suffered roof and water damage.
"It is believed the fire started in the first floor front bedroom. We are investigating the cause."
