FIREFIGHTERS rescued a family’s cat when a garage blaze spread to their house yesterday.

Luckily the alarm was raised by two teenage boys who ran to a neighbour after smelling smoke in the house and realising something was terribly wrong.

They were later treated for smoke inhalation. Royal Wootton Bassett crew manager Tom McInerney said: “They did a great job calling 999.

“The first breathing apparatus crew that went in saw the cat, picked it up and brought it outside. It was fine,”

Crews from Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon and Westlea were called to the end of terrace house in Lime Kiln after the emergency services were alerted just after 11.30am.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service spokesman said firefighters used six breathing apparatus and three hose reels to fight the blaze which started in a garage but spread to the adjoining house.

At first it was thought the fire had spread further on the ground floor of the house, but apart from the kitchen most of the damage was caused by smoke.

Crews managed to bring it under control quickly but had to contend with the problem of asbestos in the garage.

The family, which was helped by a Red Cross Fire Emergency team, is in temporary accommodation.

Mr McInerney said: “The neighbours were giving them tea and coffee and helping them out. They were a bit shaken.”

According to the fire service the cause of the fire, which started in the garage, is not yet known.