A FAMILY of four had to evacuate their home this morning after a house fire near Ross-on-Wye.

The ground floor blaze began just after 6am at a semi-detached house in Three Ashes, St Weonards.

Fire service press officer Alec Mackie said a man jumped from a first floor bedroom window onto the roof of a bay window. He was then able to help his family to safety with the aid of a ladder.

Four fire crews - two each from Whitchurch and Ross - were called to the scene, and also helped two adults and a child from an adjoining house to safety after their home had become full with smoke.