Mum Liz Walker and her teenage son escaped unharmed from a fire which ripped through their Sherston home.

The blaze broke out in an upstairs bedroom at the house of Mrs Walker and son Ryan, in Butlers Close, at about 5.15pm on Tuesday.

According to neighbours, it gutted the property in a matter of minutes.

Fire crews from across the county, including Malmes-bury, Swindon, Stratton and Corsham, as well as from Yate and Cirencester, fought for six hours to put out the blaze and avoid it spreading to the house next door.

A Red Cross victim support unit was also sent to assist the family.

The neighbouring property, which was also evacuated, suffered only water damage.

The scene on Wednesday morning was one of devastation, with the windows blackened, the roof caved in and the supporting walls beginning to subside.

Grant Aldrick, who lives opposite, said: “My son was in his bedroom playing computer games. He looked out the window and shouted down to me that there were flames coming from the house.

“I thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill but went to check anyway.

“Immedietely I told my wife to phone the fire brigade. I ran across the street and went to go inside because I thought there may be people stuck in there.

“But someone shouted at me and I realised they were already out.”

Mr Aldrick said Mrs Walker and her son had come back from shopping and heard a noise upstairs. Thinking it could be a burglar, she went up to check and discovered the blaze.

Craig Outlaw, who lives next door but whose property is not joined to the Walkers’, said: “There was smoke everywhere and the smell was unbelievable.

“You could see the flames and all the windows were open, which didn’t help.

“You wouldn’t believe how quickly it was gutted, it took no time at all.”

Mrs Walker and her son are staying with friends.

Mrs Walker is well known around Sherston. She works at the school and has been involved in the Brownies and the annual boules contest.

Martin Rea, from the parish council, said: “Liz is very involved in the community. We are all shocked about the fire but we are very grateful that she got out safely and everybody is well.

“She has had offers of free accommodation in the village and Exton Removals Company have offered her a few items for free.

“Everybody loves her. If there is anything going on Liz will be there to help and this is the community giving something back.

“I have seen her today and she’s okay. She’s got a smile on her face still.

“The parish council and the whole village will support her as much as we can.”

A Wiltshire Fire Service spokesman said fire investigators believed the blaze was started accidentally but it would take days to figure out the cause.

The spokesman said: “We have an idea of what the cause could be but the investigator still has work to do.

“The crews did a fantastic job of stopping the fire spreading.”

Roy Probert, of Sovereign Housing, said: “Sovereign would like to thank the local community for the outstanding support they have given to the affected residents.”