One was forced to leap from a first-floor window as flames swept through the home in Salisbury Terrace.

Neighbours were woken by screams shortly after 7am on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said they watched in horror as a front room window exploded from the heat.

Fire chief Ken Williamson said: "The alarm could have been the difference between life and death. Thankfully, the people inside heard it and got out just in time."

Neighbour Helen Bell, 39, said she was woken by shouting.
"I looked outside and saw people running about and great plumes of smoke pouring from the windows.

"The houses are tightly packed along here and I was really worried it would spread, so I ran to warn my neighbours to get out."
June Sharp, 76, was woken by Mrs Bell.

She said: "It was a terrible shock to see so much thick, black smoke. I've never been so close to a fire before. It was very scary."

Neighbours said they knew of two men who lived in the house, but at the time of the fire there were another four or five inside.

Police blocked Gainsborough Road as more than 25 firefighters from Sudbury, Long Melford, Bury St Edmunds and Nayland tackled the blaze.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, saw a man leap from a window.

"He was very lucky. There was smoke billowing through the roof tiles and shortly after he got out flames poured out and burned nearby trees," she said.

"All I could hear were people shouting 'fire, get out' and I could see several men outside the front of the house as it went up in flames."

Assistant divisional officer Williamson said the first crews on the scene from Sudbury were faced with fire engulfing the house.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus searched to make sure there was no-one else inside.

"Once we knew it was clear it was a case of controlling the blaze and making sure it did not spread to neighbouring houses," he said.
"But the house itself is extensively damaged and will be uninhabitable for some time."

For information about fire safety in tne home, click here