A DURSLEY pensioner had a lucky escape at the weekend after his house went up in flames.

Tom McDermid, 83, awoke in the early hours of Saturday morning to the smell of smoke at his Uley Road home and escaped just in time before the blaze took hold and destroyed part of his home.

Speaking to the Gazette this week, he said: "It was really early in the morning and I’d been up late watching television. I smelt smoke and went upstairs, looked into the bedroom and I could see the airing cupboard, where the tank is, was ablaze.

"I went back downstairs and tried 999 but I was fumbling I think so I came next door and got the fire brigade."

Luckily for Mr McDermid he was able to wake next-door neighbour Ethel Saunderson, who called the emergency services.

Mrs Saunderson said: "By the time the fire brigade came the flames were coming through the windows, the windows had blown. It happened so quickly it was frightening. I’m just relieved Tom got out."

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue was called to the fire at 1.33am. Two appliances were initially sent from Dursley Fire Station, but another crew was later sent from Wotton-under-Edge.

It took 14 firefighters almost two hours to extinguish the blaze and the crews remained at the scene for more than four hours, making sure the fire was completely out and trying to save some of Mr McDermid’s possessions.

Unfortunately the fire gutted the upstairs of the property, including Mr McDermid’s bedroom and the roof space.

Mr McDermid had lived at the property for almost 40 years, after moving there with his wife Monica, who is now in a local nursing home.

According to the fire service the fire was so severe it destroyed many of Mr McDermid’s personal possessions, though firefighters did manage to salvage some old photographs for the pensioner.

He said: "I’m ok and that’s the main thing. It’s only a house and at least it isn't being knocked down, it just needs repairing."

Following the fire on Saturday, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue are advising all households to make sure they have a working smoke alarm.

Jeff Neathway, station commander for the fire service, said: "They can give you and your family the necessary warning to get out in the early stages of a fire, which should in turn allow us to get to you more quickly. So please take this opportunity to check your alarm, or if you haven’t already got one, then now’s the time to think about it."

Mr McDermid has been told not to re-enter his home and is staying with Mrs Saunderson until he can find temporary accommodation.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue said the fire was believed to have been started by an electrical fault.