Family tells of escape in Hednesford blaze drama

A Staffordshire family today spoke of the frightening moment they were forced to flee their home after the flat beneath them caught fire.

Mother Lyndsey Haughey was feeding her seven-month-old daughter when the fire broke out.

She and husband Shane fled with baby Frankie when their first floor flat began to fill with smoke.

The family were all taken to hospital after inhaling smoke but have been allowed home.

A 31-year-old man, who lives in the ground floor flat, was hospitalised following the blaze in Wilcox Avenue, Green Heath, Hednesford at 10.45pm on Tuesday.

Mr Haughey, a 32-year-old factory worker, was asleep at the time and his 31-year-old wife was watching television while feeding her baby.

She said: "I smelled the smoke and then I heard the fire alarm and looked down the landing and it was even smokier. I woke Shane up and then we went downstairs to have a look."

Mr Haughey told how the family fled but he tried to throw water through the downstairs window where his neighbour was trapped inside.

Fire crews rescued the man from the burning flat. He was taken to hospital and the bedroom was left severely damaged.