A couple had a lucky escape after the newly thatched roof at their Little Sampford home caught fire.

More than 50 firefighters from Thaxted, Wethersfield, Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Stansted, Harlow, Newport and Brentwood attended the blaze at 5.45pm last Thursday.

The fire is thought to have started in the roof of the cottage in Hawkins Hill.

Robert Ballantyne, who has lived there with his wife Gladys for the past 33 years, said they were in the house when the blaze started.

"The thatching was completed the previous Friday, but two guys were here felting the flat roof extension we have out the back.

We were about 10 minutes off finishing and going down the pub to celebrate when one of the men came running downstairs saying there was smoke coming out of the roof."

Mr Ballantyne went on to say that fire appliances were at the scene within 10 minutes and did very well to keep the blaze under control.

"The road had to be closed and the fire brigade were absolutely fantastic,'' he said.

''I can't believe that the fire didn't spread more than it did and I think the fire service did a wonderful job.

''They said that the fire probably didn't spread because it was new straw, which is not so flammable," he added.

The fire crews also cut the chicken wire on the roof to remove the thatch to prevent the fire spreading.

The couple went to stay with neighbouring farmers, Robin and Dorothy Lee, for the rest of the night, but were planning to go back to their home, even though other kind friends and neighbours offered to put them up.

"Of course we were upset at the time and my wife is still very shaken up and traumatised, but things could have been so much worse,'' said Mr Ballantyne.

''No-one was injured, and everything damaged was just material - it can be replaced.

''We are lucky the fire was not much worse, but the main thing is no-one is hurt.

''We have electricity and heating, and our bedroom and shower room wasn't affected so we can still live here.''

The fire, which is believed to have started in the roof, was brought under control by 7pm.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze is now under way.

Blaze damage: Robert Ballantyne outside his Little Sampford cottage after the fire which is thought to have started in the roof.

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