Sixteen rabbits perished and their elderly owner got hurt trying to save them as a fire tore through her Teddington home.

The blaze started on Thursday evening in Hawkins Road when the pensioner went to feed her pets, leaving a candle unattended in her living room.

She came back to find the house alight.

Instead of getting out, the woman desperately tried to transport her rabbits from the living room to safety in the garden - burning her hands and face in the process.

Once outside, she called the fire brigade, who arrived to find the blaze raging, with the back windows of the house shattered by the fire.

More than 40 firefighters from Kingston, Twickenham and Surbiton descended on the property at various points in the evening, wearing breathing apparatus to tackle the inferno.

The fire was brought under control by 10pm, having completely destroyed the ground floor, 75 per cent of the first floor and half of the roof.

Ambulance crews took the woman, who was in her 60s, to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Witnesses described her as "very upset and quite badly burnt".

Fire crews said sixteen rabbits died in the blaze, and 10 survived, saved either by firefighters or through the efforts of their owner.

Brennan Healey, crew manager at Kingston fire station, said: "If there's a fire, it's important to get out, stay out and call 999.

"Keep candles away from drafts and curtains and put them in holders."

Firefighters will provide and fit smoke alarms for free, and will carry out free fire risk assessments.

Call 0800 284 428.