Six fire engines and 35 fire fighters tackled a blaze which 'engulfed' a house in Locksbottom.

Most of the first floor and roof were alight, sending plumes of smoke shooting metres into the air filling the street.

The fire brigade were called at 11.30 this morning (April 22) to the fire in Copthorne Avenue, Locksbottom.

Neighbour Paul Gibbs, whose house directly borders the fire, said his roof was alight and he had to leave his house immediately with one-year-old Jessica and dog Regi.

Mr Gibbs said: “The dog started barking, I looked out then and I could hear people shouting and I came straight out.

“A neighbour was banging on my window.

“I grabbed a peppa pig, a cup of juice and that’s it. I’ve just got to sit and wait.

“It literally took five minutes to engulf the whole front. I would never believe it if I hadn’t seen it. It was quick.

“I think my roof’s alight, the fire fighters are in there now trying to put it out with hoses.

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Paul, Jessica and Regi

“We had just put our winter clothes up in the loft so I don’t suppose that’s going to be any good.

“It’s all badly damaged, we had just got home.

“I’ve lived here 27 years and I’ve never seen anything like this happen before.

“Everyone was out the house before it really took hold, thank god. Everything else can be replaced."

Residents and neighbours looked on as firefighters tried to quell the flames, battling against the wind.

Sushama Raval, from Bromley, said it was her brother Raj's house which was alight, and they received a frantic call while out shopping alerting them to the emergency.

Ms Raval said: “It’s so out of the blue, it’s quite a shock.

“My brother didn’t even drive to the shops we came to collect him to go shopping.

“I think she [her brother’s wife] was in the garden and she had to go get something from inside and when she went up the stairs she got confronted by all the smoke.

“This has never happened before, we can’t believe it.

MORE TOP STORIES:“We could actually see the smoke from the end of the road, it was quite scary. You can really smell the smoke.

“We’re so glad no one got hurt. Apparently the front window fell out right in front of her.

"The neighbour phoned my brother, then my brother’s wife came on the phone.”

Station Manager Kevin McKenzie who is at the scene, said: "Firefighters are working hard to stop the fire spreading and steady progress is being made to bring it under control."

No one was injured in the blaze, and the fire brigade tweeted the fire was 'under control' by around 2.45pm.

Engines from Addington, Bromley and Sutton, including an aerial ladder platform, attended the fire, along with police and the London ambulance service. 

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Twitter user, Lewis Wood (@lew_wood) posted: "Full blown fire in a house down our street, 4 fire engines and an ambulance!"