A family of eight narrowly escaped with their lives today when their home was engulfed in flames.

Gary Griffiths and partner Julie Scott say they are just happy to be alive after their house in Chester Walk, Colburn, North Yorkshire, was destroyed by fire.

The couple were in bed at about 8.30am this morning when the smoke detector sounded.

Mr Griffiths, 36, said: "The alarm went off and I found a telly on fire in one of the bedrooms - there was no way I could put it out.

"We got the kids out and took them nextdoor.

"When I came back the whole house had gone up.

"Two more minutes and we would have been gone."

Ms Scott, 31, said: "I'm just happy that we're all alive.

"You can replace furniture but you can't replace lives."

Five of the couple's six children were in the house when the blaze started.

Seven-year-old Keely, Tyler, five, three-year-old twins Ebony and Blue and 18-month-old Brook escaped injury.

The couple's oldest child, 12-year-old Abbie, was on her way to school at the time.

The family's pets - two dogs and a ferret - also survived.

Around 20 firefighters battled for more than an hour to control the blaze.

Four appliances from Richmond, Colburn, Bedale and Leyburn attended.

Sub officer Steve Harris, from Richmond fire station, said the incident highlighted the importance of having a working smoke alarm.

He said: "The house is gutted and nextdoor suffered smoke damage.

"Flames were coming out of the bedroom widows when we arrived.

"Our main concern was that the fire would spread to nextdoor."

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Temporary accommodation has been found for the family at Richmondshire District Council's homeless unit.

Colin Dales, the council's housing unit manager, said: "This is obviously meant as a short-term solution and we are doing everything we can to make them feel as comfortable as possible while we start the re-homing process."

It is understood the council house will be repaired, rather than demolished.