An heroic mother caught a young girl in her arms after she jumped for her life from a blazing bedroom.

Julie Ashby, 33, saved the nine-year-old girl, from serious injury by talking her into making the 11-foot drop.

Julie who lives in Dewsgreen, Vange, opposite the little girl Chantelle, was on the phone to her mum when the fire broke out at about 10.30am.

Julie, a mum-of-four, said: "I could see smoke passing in front of the door and then I heard screaming.

"Still on the phone, I looked over and could see the little girl was standing up at the bedroom window clinging onto the side of it.

"She was black from head to foot and looked like she had come out of a chimney. She was wearing nothing else but a little vest. She was screaming but also looked like she was having trouble breathing.

"The smoke coming out of the window was a thick black flume."

Julie threw the phone down and ran over to the house in her dressing gown.

She said: "Other neighbours were over there telling her to jump. I have never seen a look of fear like it on a girl's face.

"I said 'sweetheart, I'm coming'. I stood underneath the window and said 'I promise I will catch you' but she said 'I can't, I'm too scared'. I said 'lower yourself down, you've got to!'."

Chantelle, crouched down before finally letting go of the window and pushing herself off. She fell sideways into Julie's arms, which she said made it easier to catch her.

Seconds later the window smashed as a result of the intense heat.

Meanwhile neighbours went into the house to find a toddler who was believed to be in there but were forced back by the flames. The toddler was found in the garden.

It is believed Chantelle was staying at her grandparents house when the blaze broke out.

Another neighbour, Julie Marlow, 29, wrapped Chantelle in a duvet and took her into her house until the ambulance arrived.

She said: "She was covered in black and had burnt her fingers and arm."

Chantelle was taken to Basildon Hospital and treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.

Julie Ashby's partner, Derek, said: "We could have had a death on this square if the little girl hadn't jumped."

Two fire crews from Basildon fought the blaze which destroyed the bedroom and caused smoke damage to much of the house.

Sub-officer, Adrian Ramsey, said: "The heroine deserves praise."

The cause of the fire, which started in the bedroom, is not yet known but is not being treated as suspicious.

Heroine - Julie Ashby with her partner Derek outside the blaze house in Dewsgreen

Picture: SUSAN McNULTY

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