A mum has described the terrifying moment two of her children had to be rescued from a fire which tore through her home.
Jill Williamson, 49, and her three children have been left with nothing following the fire, which is believed to have started in one of the bedrooms in Collins Avenue, Sutton in Ashfield, at about 10am on Sunday, February 23.
Two of her children, Fin Lakin, 15, and Sophie Lakin, 14, were rescued by firefighters during the blaze - having got trapped in a bedroom and being unable to escape.
The mum-of-three did not initially hear the smoke alarms going off and has praised the bravery of her children, including Fin, who called the emergency services from inside the burning building.
She said: "We think it started in my autistic son's bedroom. I'm deaf, so I couldn't hear the smoke alarm going off and I woke up to the sound of him screaming.
"I walked out of my bedroom and couldn't see anything, I was screaming for my kids and I could not hear them. It was terrifying.
"I managed to get outside and I was still screaming for my kids, my 13-year-old son Robbie was following me out but I had no idea where Fin or Sophie were.
"I then saw them hanging out of the bedroom window and they couldn't get out. Fin called the emergency services and they were talking him through what to do until they arrived.
"When the fire service arrived I watched them rescue my two kids out the window and we were all taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. It was one of the most horrific moments in my life.
"The kids were absolutely fantastic and so brave, but I was so scared. One of them has got a lingering cough because of the fire, and some bruising because they had to be dragged out of the window."
Miss Williamson and the children are currently staying at her parents' house in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, having watched as the fire tore through the upstairs and hallway of their home.
They are unsure of the full extent of the damage as of yet, but know all of the contents upstairs have been destroyed.
Miss Williamson added: "I've got no idea what happens next. I'm contacting my home insurer today, the only problem being that my policy documents are inside the house.
"I don't know what we might need following this, but by the sounds of it we have lost everything. It's all just a shock, I don't even know where to start thinking about what's inside."
Miss Williamson's niece Nicola Cheetham has set up an online fundraiser to support the family, with requests for for either funds or clothes to support them during the difficult period.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service remain at the scene investigating the cause of the fire.
A spokesman added: "On arrival the smoke alarms were going off, giving the occupiers early warning of a fire in the property.
"This incident shows how important having working smoke alarms on each level of your home is."
