Great Cornard mum speaks of fear after Cats Lane fire

Firefighters were called to the blaze in Cats Lane at about 8.10pm on Tuesday and crews from Sudbury, Long Melford, Halstead and Colchester battled the fire for over an hour.

As well as destroying a hedge and shed, the fire also spread to the side of the house and a nearby car.

The aftermath of the blaze in Cats Lane (Image: Newsquest)

Emma Woolaghan, a mum-of-three who rents the house that was involved in the blaze, said: "We were in Sudbury getting some shopping and one of our boys was in his bedroom at home.

"Fortunately one of our neighbour's sons and his girlfriend were driving up here and they said they heard a 'whoosh' like a firework and then saw a tiny fire had started."

Ms Woolaghan said a neighbour called 999, came with fire extinguishers and started putting the fire out and banged on the door to alert her son, 20, who was then able to escape the building unharmed.

The fire spread to a hedge and car as well as the side of the house (Image: Newsquest)

"When I got back here the flames were higher than the house," she said.

"We came up the road and I couldn't see my son. I just broke down.

"Then I realised that he was talking with the firemen on the back of the engine, which was such a relief. It was so scary."

The hedge of the family home has been completely destroyed in the blaze, as well as the garden shed and a neighbour's car which was parked outside.

The side of the house was impacted in the blaze (Image: Newsquest)

Guttering and a window of the home also sustained damage.

Crews from Sudbury, Long Melford, Halstead and Colchester battled the fire for over an hour.

Ms Woolaghan said the neighbours have been 'absolutely fantastic' with supporting the family, particularly those from numbers 24 to 40.

"The pub also offered us a free meal and drink last night, which was lovely of them," she said.

"I couldn't have asked for more from them all. The fire service were fantastic, they got here in 13 minutes and they were so helpful."