Woman jumps from Old Hill home blaze

A woman had to jump from the first floor of a burning house while her two children had to be rescued by firefighters after a suspected arson attack on a Black Country home.

A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were pulled from the burning house in Old Hill while their mother suffered a broken pelvis leaping to safety into the garden.

It is believed a fire was started deliberately at the back of the mid-terraced house in Willows Close shortly after 11 o'clock last night before flames engulfed the living room and black smoke filled the rest of the home.

Neighbours watched from the street as fire crews from Cradley Heath arrived to tackle the blaze. Firefighters broke into the house to rescue the children, while others battled the flames to stop them from spreading.

The family suffered smoke inhalation and needed hospital treatment.

Watch commander Rudy Parkes, of Cradley Heath station, said they could hear the children screaming from inside the house when they arrived.