SEVEN people escaped a house blaze, some by jumping from windows, after fire quickly spread through their home.

Three adults and four children managed to flee the house, several helped out by neighbours, in Bowburn, near Durham.

All were initially feared trapped in the two-storey premises, in Bede Terrace, after the fire developed last night.

Durham Fire and Rescue Service dispatched three appliances after receiving the emergency call shortly before 11pm reporting that the house was well alight.

Four firefighters entered the premises wearing breathing kit, but all the occupants were accounted for and all seven were taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment for smoke inhalation.

One of the adults also suffered a sprained ankle, believed to have been caused by kicking open a door or window within the house as part of an escape bid.

Thirteen Durham-based firefighters were involved tackling the blaze, with the official stop message on the incident declared by 12.40pm.

Watch manager Andy Dodd, the senior firefighter who led the operation, said: "We were initially told the house was on fire and that persons were trapped.

"We received multiple calls confirming this while we were en route.

"When we go there the three adults and four children had managed to get out of the house by smashing downstairs windows, although one adult apparently jumped from an upstairs window.

"The fire was quite fierce and at one time involved every room in the house."

Mr Dodd said it is understood smoke alarms activated alerting the occupants, some of whom in upstairs bedrooms.

He added: "We had the fire under control within 20 minutes and there was extensive damage.

"We'll now be conducting an investigation into the cause."

The house remained sealed off by police this morning with officers in a patrol car keeping watch outside the damaged property.