FIVE households were left living in temporary accommodation after a fire swept through a terraced street.

All five homes were gutted in the blaze on Friday and fire officers at the scene said it was lucky the entire row of a dozen houses was not destroyed.

Other experienced fire officers said they could not believe no-one was killed or seriously injured in the fire at Newlyn Close, Brookvale, Runcorn.

The alarm was raised at 9.40pm when a small fire got out of control at one of the homes. A woman received superficial burns but managed to call the fire brigade. Within minutes, however, the blaze had spread and soon all five properties were on fire.

Five fire engines from Runcorn attended the incident but help was also called in from Widnes, Warrington, Frodsham and Stockton Heath.

At the inferno's height, crews doused the roofs of surrounding properties in a bid to prevent the blaze spreading.

Thick smoke enveloped the area for more than four hours and the scene was only declared safe at 7.25pm - nearly eight hours after the initial call out.

One householder said: 'I was called at work and told my house was on fire. I couldn't believe it when I got home. Everything was alight and there was smoke everywhere.

'I have lost everything and have no idea what I am going to do.'

Neighbours revealed how parents with babies in their arms and young children in tow had been forced to flee their homes as the flames spread.

A fire brigade spokesman said: 'When we first arrived on the scene, the fear was that the whole block would go up.

'We have done a remarkable job to ensure that the damage has been limited to five properties.'

Fire investigators are examining the scene to discover the cause of the blaze.