A FATHER has spoken of his family’s lucky escape after a fire broke out while they were at home.

Flames badly damaged the roof and loft of the detached house in Huntington, near York, and the property has also suffered major water and smoke damage throughout.

Eddie Sykes was at work on Thursday when the fire broke out in the loft, but his partner was at home with their four children, who are aged 11, four, 18 months and 11 weeks.

She discovered the fire after the electrics went off in the house and she heard a crackling sound, before moving to get their children out of the house and alerting the fire brigade.

Mr Sykes said: “I am just glad my family is safe. It could have been much more serious.

“We’re devastated. The fireman says it could be three to six months we are out of the house. The top of the house needs reconstruction work.

“We will rescue what we can but apart from a few items everything has been destroyed by the fire.

“They managed to stop the fire spreading downstairs, but the house has been flooded. There’s no room not affected.

“To see Christmas toys burnt and ruined on the front lawn is horrible.”