A raging house fire has left a family of five homeless.

It took a team of 30 fire fighters seven hours to put out flames, which could be seen above the trees by neighbours.

Sarah and Lee Wotton, owners of Clarkes Farm, Pebmarsh Road, Twinstead, were alerted to the fire when the electricity went off and they could see flames reflected in the glass on their patio.

Verity Stebbing, neighbour and previous owner of Clarkes Farm, said: "It was just aglow and before I knew it, the flames were above the trees. It was enormous.

"By the time I got out to the road it was up, absolutely unbelievable.

"It's an absolute tragedy."

Six fire crews were called to the thatched home at about 7pm on October 22.

Five jets, two hose reels and a portable pump were used to tame the blaze and they eventually put it out at 2:10am on October 23.

Iain MacLeod, fire safety inspector for Essex Fire and Rescue, said: "The parents didn't care about possessions. They got everybody out.

"Fire fighters managed to get the fire under control at about 1am."

Firemen also managed to salvage some of the family's belongings along with a lot of important documents as well as photos.

The Wottons moved into the 300-year-old home about two years ago.

They changed the slate roof to a thatched roof and turned it into what neighbours described as a picture postcard cottage.' Nigel Acres, Halstead Station officer, said: "By the time we got there the whole roof was alight and it was starting to cave into the upstairs.

"We salvaged some belongings, but then the roof became too unstable to be inside.

"We had to fight the fire from outside.

"The crew worked very very hard. It was an arduous task.

"The family were obviously distraught."

The house was described as being 100 per cent well alight at about 7pm.