'All I could think about was saving my children': Bloxwich mum tells of horror as fire struck at her family home leaving them homeless

'Some people just freeze, but all I could think about when I saw the flames was saving my children'. Those are the words of 40-year-old Yvonne Smith, whose family was left homeless after being targeted in a suspected arson attack on Friday afternoon.

Yvonne, Wayne and their three young children have been left without a home since the blaze broke out at the property on Green Rock Lane, in Bloxwich, destroying her partner's childhood home which they had inherited from his parents - and all of its possessions.

Now Yvonne and Wayne and her three young children, aged five, eight and 10, (who can't be named) have to rely on charitable donations and the loving support shown by their relatives.

As an investigation by West Midlands Police continues, Yvonne has opened up about the life-changing day and the devastating repercussions the fire has had on her family.

'I heard the front door smash'

Speaking while holding back tears, Yvonne said that the blaze had turned the lives of her three children upside down, the youngest of whom had only celebrated his fifth birthday a day prior.

Talking about the fire, Yvonne said: "You never think this kind of thing will happen to you. I had only just gotten home with my three boys about 20 minutes before it happened. We had just been shopping.

"My parenting instinct must have just taken over because as soon as I saw those flames I shut the door and ran to grab the kids and ran everyone outside. You could feel the heat on your face. The whole place just went up.

Yvonne's quick actions helped save the lives of her three children, one of whom had heroically run outside to call the neighbours for help.