A FAMILY of eight narrowly escaped death yesterday 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.

The couple were in bed at about 8.30am yesterday 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 next door. When I came back, the whole house had gone up. Two more minutes and we would have been gone."

Ms Scott, 31, said: "I am just happy that we are all alive. You can replace furniture, but you cannot replace lives."

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

Keely, seven, 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.

About 20 firefighters battled for more than an hour to control the blaze. 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 next door suffered smoke damage. Flames were coming out of the bedroom widows when we arrived.

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

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Temporary accommodation has been found for the family by Richmondshire District Council.

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.