RESIDENTS have described watching smoke billowing from a West Drayton house completely gutted by fire.

Giant flames were seen roaring from the front door of the semi-detached house in Swan Road, West Drayton, at 2.50am today.

A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were both taken to Hillingdon Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation but were not believed to be in a serious condition.

The blaze took 20 firefighters just under an hour to get under control.

One neighbour who wished to remain anonymous said: "We were woken up by all the goings on and the lights flashing. There was grey smoke billowing out of the house. I was very concerned for the family next door because they have young children.

"It's very sad with it coming up to Christmas."

Crews from Hayes, Hillingdon and Heathrow fire stations were all called to extinguish the blaze which completely destroyed the ground and first floor of the house.

A spokeswoman from the London Ambulance Service said an ambulance and duty officer were sent to the scene.

The Gazette visited the site and saw the charred remains of furniture and clothes stacked up outside the now boarded up home.

Another neighbour added: "It was pretty scary. The flames were coming out the front door and reached up to the upstairs windows. It's lucky that no-one was injured."

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Contact the Gazette if you saw anything or were affected by the fire on 01895 451 033.