The victim of a horrific house fire - in which 14 pet rabbits were dramatically saved - has thanked neighbours for raising £200 to help her get her life back on track.

The blaze at Irusia Armattoe's Teddington home, started last Thursday evening as the 65-year-old went to feed her pets, leaving a candle unattended.

She came back to find the living room ablaze.

In a desperate bid to save her beloved bunnies and get them outside, Mrs Armattoe suffered burns to her face and hands.

She was only saved when a neighbour battled through the flames to drag her to safety.

Now well-wishers in Hawkins Road have put together an emergency cash fund for Mrs Armattoe, who lost everything she owns in the inferno.

Speaking exclusively to the Richmond and Twickenham Times, the Richmond Council worker thanked her neighbours for their generosity, adding: "I'm still in shock. By the time I came back into the living room, fires were starting everywhere.

"Now the house is boarded up and I haven't been back in yet. There is nothing left - what was not burnt was soaked by water. I am just grateful to be alive - material possessions are not that important."

Lyn Curtis, who lives behind Mrs Armattoe's home, said: "She has got nothing, even her bank cards were in the house so it's going to be very difficult for her.

"She probably has not got much money at all."

She added: "It was terrifying and went up very quickly. I saw the flames out the back and they went right up as high as the house.

"They had to throw everything she owns out of the window and they were still there at 3am. I have never seen a house go up so quickly."

More than 40 firefighters from Twickenham, Kingston and Surbiton fire stations tackled the blaze.

The ground floor was totally gutted and about 75 per cent of the first floor was damaged in the flames, as well as half of the roof.