Neighbours describe how three people escaped house fire on Middleton Road, Newark

Three people and a dog escaped from a fire that destroyed a house in Newark on Easter Monday.

Fire broke out at the semi-detached home on Middleton Road at around 4pm.

Crews were sent from Newark, Collingham, Bingham, London Road and Grantham.

A neighbour said: “It was soul destroying, people’s lives have just been destroyed, and the property.

“My stepfather came in mid afternoon yesterday and I was watching the TV, he told me to ring the fire brigade as next door was on fire.

“There was smoke billowing out of the back end of the house.”

Along with another neighbour, he helped get the two men, a woman and a dog out of the upstairs window.

One man exited the building, then a woman came out and she threw the dog, who was caught by a neighbour.

The men helped her on to the bay window, and then get down before the window blew and “chucked all of us on to the floor” said the neighbour

Another man then jumped from the upstairs window on to the ground.

The neighbour said: “He had to jump out the top window, he had no choice and broke his arm, a small price to pay.

“It was like a war zone yesterday, thankfully there were no fatalities.

His adjoining house did not catch on fire, but he said the whole place stank of smoke.

“We have a bay window that’s blistered and discoloured, and had a bit of water retaining yesterday near the partition wall,” he said.

Another resident, Aurelija Gricenko, described the whole situation as very scary.

She said: “I heard some noise and shouting and told my husband. I watched everything room the window, my whole body was shaking.”

“It was very sad, but everyone is fine.”

Mr Crossley, who lives further down the street, said: “The first I knew about it was two small explosions, I got up and had a look and there was smoke.

“I feel sorry for the people it happened to.”