AN heroic dad jumped from a first-floor window before using a ladder to rescue his wife and children from their blazing Herefordshire home.

Brave Matthew Preece helped his two teenage children, Naomi and Kieran, and wife Haley down the ladder and into the garden of their semi-detached cottage near Three Ashes, St Weonards, following the early morning fire.

He then smashed his way back into the house through a kitchen window to save the family’s cat and switch off the electricity supply.

Mr Preece then ran next door to warn his neighbours.

“I didn’t really think about what I was doing, it just happened so quickly,” said Mr Preece, who is 38. “I remember saying to Haley there was a fire. I opened the bedroom door and just saw all the smoke.” The blaze, discovered just after 6am last Thursday, is thought to have been caused by the central heating system under the stairs.

Four fire crews – two each from Whitchurch and Ross – were called to the scene, by which time Matthew’s actions meant the family was safely out of the house.

Whitchurch watch manager Bryan Thornett said Matthew’s quick thinking saved his family.

“He was very brave and got his family out before we got there,” he said.

“He was able to locate a ladder and stop the fuel and electric supply to the house.

“If the fire had been earlier in the morning, it could have been disastrous.” Matthew said the day had started the same as any other but soon turned to disaster.

“My alarm clock went off as usual but then I could hear the crackling of the fire,” he said. “I jumped out of our bedroom window on to the top of the downstairs bay window, and ran across the garden to get the ladder.” Haley said she immediately woke her children and told them to come into the couple’s bedroom.

“Kieran initially tried to run downstairs and go out of the front door but the flames were too strong,” she said.

“Once we were in the room, Kieran fetched a towel to put under the bottom of the door to stop the smoke coming through. Naomi also picked her mobile up so we were able to call the fire service.” Mrs Preece added that their neighbours had been fantastic, with many offering their help and even cooking the family breakfast.

Since last week’s blaze, the family have been unable to return to their home but are just grateful no-one was hurt.

“It’s horrible to see your belongings go up in flames, but it was a relief knowing my family were all right,” said Matthew.

The hall and stairs of the house, where the family had lived since 1999, were the worst affected area, with many family photos and mementoes lost forever. Some of Kieran’s toy cars were melted by the heat, while Naomi lost many of her clothes after the blaze caused them to melt on to their coathangers.

“For the time being we’ll stay in our caravan on the drive, with the children staying at their grandparents in Ross,” said Haley.

Alec Mackie, fire service press officer, said three people from the property next door had evacuated their house because it had become smoke-logged but had since returned home.