A FAMILY ran for their lives after their boiler burst into flames just hours after a British Gas engineer carried out maintenance on it.

Neighbours said they were only alerted to the danger when a passer-by noticed the fire burning on the roof and banged on the front door.

It took 21 firefighters more than two hours to get the blaze under control in Castlebar Park, Ealing.

Neighbour Jean Smith said: “I was watching television at about 11.30pm when I heard people outside shouting. I couldn’t see the fire, it must’ve been at the back, but I was told there were flames coming out of the roof.

“The only reason the people inside knew was because a guy coming down the road saw the fire and banged on their door shouting ‘fire’. I saw them the morning after. They were shocked but very grateful they all escaped unhurt and they all still had their lives.

“I was in shock as well. Nothing like this has ever happened before. This row of five houses are relatively new, only 12 years old. You just don’t expect anything like this.”

The fire brigade confirmed a faulty boiler caused the blaze on Thursday last week. Most of the damage was to the roof of the semi-detached house.

The victims said they were too upset to speak to the Gazette.

British Gas, which sent the workman earlier in the day, said it is providing support to the family but that it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment.