A family of six leapt to safety through a window as fire engulfed their house.

Gordon and Anna Kingshott and their children were heard screaming by neighbours as the blaze spread through their twobedroom terrace home in Fennel Crescent, Broadfield, Crawley, yesterday morning.

Smoke and flames were seen coming from the windows and doors of the property and several calls to West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service reported that children were trapped in the building.

It is believed Mr Kingshott and two of the children escaped through the front door while Mrs Kingshott, 28, and the other two children were seen hanging from the first floor front bedroom window as Mr Kingshott caught them.

Mrs Kingshott's children Chloe, 11, and Emily, nine, and Mr Kingshott's daughters Amara, 13, and Shannon, 11, managed to escape the inferno before fire crews arrived.

The family was taken to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and it is thought one of the children may have cut her stomach on broken glass as she leapt from the property.

None of the family's injuries is believed to be lifethreatening.

Two pet hamsters died in the fire but a cat survived the blaze and was found hiding in the property several hours later.

Mr Kingshott had also smashed a window at the back of the house to rescue the family dog. Yesterday members of the family began assessing the damage to the property as it was boarded up.

John Kingshott, Mrs Kingshott's uncle, said: "My niece has lost absolutely everything."

Mrs Kingshott's brother Chris Knight said the family would either go and stay with his mother in Maidenbower, Crawley, or with his other sister in Kent.

Neighbour Brendan Twell, 33, was getting ready to go to work in Burgess Hill at 7.15am when he heard shouting.

He said: "I looked out of the back window and saw smoke billowing out everywhere and phoned 999.

"It was like smoke coming from a ship's funnel. An amazing amount of smoke, completely black, acrid, horrible smoke."

The fire spread from the lounge on the ground floor and cut off the staircase as a means of escape.

The blaze is thought to have been started accidentally by a candle.

Mr Twell said: "Seeing the sight of the children with their little legs coming out through thick, thick smoke, it was shocking.

"They were all cold and shivering in their pyjamas.

We did a head count to make sure they were all safe and then I got my family out from next door.

"I am gutted for them.

You look at that and you just think bodies."

John Kingshott is appealing for donations of furniture or clothing. Call him on 07880 511195.