A FIRE which ripped through a family home may have been caused by a plastic toy left near a gas fire.
Emma Woolams and her two young children escaped from their burning home just before 8pm on Monday.
The fire may have been started by Ms Woolams' two-year-old son Luke leaving a plastic toy next to the fire.
Ms Woolams was asleep on the sofa with six-month-old Josh when she was woken by the smoke alarm going off and saw the fire in the middle of the living room.
She took her baby outside and returned into the house to drag Luke to safety.
They escaped as flames swept through the home in Acklam Road, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough.
The family suffered smoke inhalation and slight shock.
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