FIREFIGHTERS say an overnight blaze at a farmhouse could have easily ended in tragedy.

A couple in their 60s were woken at about 2.30am, on Saturday, by the sounds of the fire at Pea Farm, Oxhill, Stanley, County Durham.

They managed to get out of the building, and raised the alarm by mobile phone.

The fire broke out in a cottage connected to the main farmhouse, and was starting to break through on the landing.

Four fire crews, from High Handenhold and Consett, fought the blaze for more than an hour. It badly damaged the cottage, which was used for storage, and also spread to another cottage, under renovation.

It was contained to the landing and hall of the farmhouse but there was heat and smoke damage in other parts of the building.

Police scenes of crime officers and fire brigade investigators are trying to establish the cause of the blaze.

Fire brigade district manager for Derwentside Ian Dockerty said the fire was starting to break through an internal door from the cottage to the farmhouse when the occupants got out.

"It was close to being a fatal fire. They were literally minutes away from a tragedy. They didn't have smoke alarms, which would have alerted them, and they were woken by the noise.

"They have been very lucky. Someone was watching over them. You can't rely on your senses with fire.''

He added that the blaze also caused a power cut in the area, after cables were brought down.

Mr Dockerty urged people to fit smoke alarms, and said people in County Durham could call their local fire station to arrange for a free safety check and installation of alarms.