Fire ripped through an empty house, forcing an elderly neighbour to flee her home after flames spread through the roof space.
The fire broke out at a semi-detached house in Beryl Avenue, in Wykin estate, Hinckley, shortly after 6am yesterday.
The fierce blaze, which was tackled by firefighters from Hinckley, Leicester's Southern station and Nuneaton, gutted the disused property.
Smoke and flames forced next-door neighbour Una Thomson, who is in her late 70s, out into the street.
She was taken in by neighbour Jean Orton, 63, who said: "A neighbour across the street knocked on my door at about 6.15am and said there was a fire.
"I went out and saw Una standing in the street so I brought her round here.
"I've known Una for a long time. We're friendly round here in The Circle, as it's called, and look out for one another.
"She woke up and saw the smoke. She's lost a lot of her stuff, precious mementoes.
"Insurance is no good for your memories. She was very upset.
"The house has stood empty for about eight years and it became rundown.
"Kids used to break into it, but then metal mesh was put up at the windows to protect it."
Mrs Thomson's son, Robert, said: "My mum woke up at about 5.50am and could smell smoke.
"She got out straight away when she realised what it was.
"She's very upset and is staying at my house while we get things sorted out. She has lived there 30 years and is very shaken up by what's happened.
"I work at Asda and I got the call at about 7am and came round to get her."
Mrs Thomson was too upset to speak about the incident. Neighbour Tony Hunt said: "I didn't see any flames at first, just smoke, which the wind was blowing towards our house.
"I saw the flames shoot out when the firemen got their hoses on it – it looked like it was going well."
Watch manager Stewart Payne, said: "It was a severe fire. The first crews on the scene, from Hinckley, faced a fire which was well under way and was coming out of the windows and roof.
"It's a vacant property which had mesh over the windows, making access difficult.
"It spread to the next-door property causing some fire damage in the loft and smoke damage.
"The property involved in the fire was gutted and there is a risk of the floor collapsing, so we are making it safe for the fire investigation team to get in."
