Phoenix from the flames stories do not come much more heart-warming than Dominic and Corina Buckwell's.

The Buckwells thought they were living every young couple's dream in June 2002 when they bought their fantasy home - an imposing six-bedroomed former hunting lodge in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

But just four days after collecting the keys to 17th Century Upper Lodge, Ringmer, their dream turned into a nightmare.

Dominic and Corina were staying with friends in London when they got a call at 3am.

Barrister Dominic, 35, said: "The man announced he was from Newhaven fire station and asked me if I was at home.

"I said I wasn't and he sounded relieved but I just went cold.

"He told me Upper Lodge was on fire and we should get home as soon as we could."

The couple arrived at dawn to find a pile of smouldering ashes and rubble which hours earlier had been their pride and joy.

"We were devastated, heartbroken," said designer Corina, 35.

The fire, which was probably caused by a faulty boiler, wrecked their home.

"We were literally left with the clothes we stood in," said Corina. "All our furniture and cherished possessions and my whole design business went up in smoke."

Things became worse when it emerged the Buckwells, who had already overstretched themselves financially to buy Upper Lodge, were under-insured.

They faced the agonising decision of trying to rebuild their home or walking away from the wreckage with what little they could salvage.

Dominic said: "It was a dilemma because to stay meant even more debt and uncertainty but we thought it was the only thing to do. It would have been easy to give in but we persevered."

Three years later that decision has paid off.

The Buckwells have a stunning new home which was last week awarded a prestigious Sussex Heritage Trust award for quality of architecture.

Because of its prominent hilltop location, the design for the new Upper Lodge was an important consideration.

Dominic said: "We knew we had to do something sympathetic to the design of the old house but not a pastiche. What we have is a good blend of modern and traditional. We have kept certain features such as sash windows and the tiled walls.

"They even used some of the charred bricks salvaged from the fire. Dominic added: "The planning authorities were sympathetic but were not going to allow us to build something that was not right in such a sensitive location."

The designs took a year to finalise and building just under a year. The couple stayed with Corina's parents, in rented accommodation and then in a converted barn in the grounds of Upper Lodge to oversee the building process.

Corina said: "I will never say I'm glad the fire happened, even though I love what we have built, but this award is a happy ending to what was a very rough time for us.

"Our architects, from Neil Holland, entered the house for the award. We will display our plaque with pride."