A FAMILY has 'lost everything' after a fire broke out at their home just three days into the new year.

Firefighters were called to Greenham Lane, near Drimpton, shortly after 9am on Thursday and spent five hours tackling the blaze.

The fire prompted a large emergency response, with fire crews from Beaminster, Bridport, Crewkerne, Charmouth, Yeovil, Chard and Maiden Newton attending the fire, which started in the roof of a terraced house and spread to a first floor bedroom and the roof of a neighbouring property, according to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "There were 20 breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets and three main jets - officers needed to get the slats off the roof to bring the fire under control, so it was case of people power. "

Relief crews from Lyme Regis and Sherborne attended at about midday, when the operation was scaled down.

Dorset Police also attended to help with traffic control around the village.

Residents were at home at both properties at the time of the blaze but got out safely.

On the day of the fire, Drimpton resident Brian Hesketh was walking to Greenham when he spotted smoke in the distance. “I was ill-prepared for the sad sight, approaching Bridge Cottages, of neighbours standing powerless as flames and smoke poured from an upper window," he said.

“I was overtaken by a fire engine and by the time I left, there were many fire crews in attendance. Thankfully the fire appeared not to have spread to all the cottages.”

Neighbour Guy Martin rushed from his office to see if he could help.

He said: “I didn’t realise anything was going on until the fire engine stopped outside. I rushed out to see if I could help but two cottages have been gutted.

“It was a row of cottages which are connected by the roofs and it started in one of the middle ones and spread to the other. The owners are in deep shock and have lost everything. They heard a bang of some sort and the room filled with smoke.

“I have been dealing with the insurance on their behalf and [the company] has been very helpful – they have given money for them to buy clothing and toiletries.

“They stayed with a family member, but the insurance company has agreed to put them up in a hotel until they can find somewhere more suitable."

An investigation to establish the cause of the fire is ongoing.