A family were rescued from a house fire by a quick-thinking police officer who spotted smoke billowing on Imperial Road in Bedfont.

Five children, aged between six and 20, their mother and the dog were sleeping, unaware of the blaze which had started in their back garden before PC Cathy Richards arrived and frantically knocked on the front door.

The mother who answered rushed to the back of the house to see a shocking sight of a burning fence, shattered windows, charred bench and the children's sandpit in ruins.

Ms Richards, 35, who charged across the green and hurriedly knocked on the door, said: "I saw a massive billow of smoke above a house.

"I got out the van and ran across the green.

"A passer-by helped me knock on some doors.

"A female came out the house and I asked her if there was a fire in her house and asked her to check the back.

"We shouted for everyone to get out of the house.

"We ushered the kids out as well as the dog."

Ms Richards who is on the Feltham North Safer Neighbourhoods Team was on Monarch Close for a morning appointment when she looked across the green and saw plumes of smoke coming from the house.

While the family were being led to safety to the front of the house, a neighbour got out his hose pipe and sprayed water over the garden fence and put the fire out.

Meanwhile, Ms Richards called the incident through on her car radio.

Ms Richards added: "I am grateful that I was able to intervene quickly before the fire took hold of the house.

"I have children and a pet dog myself and this could have easily been me.

"I would like to thank the neighbours and passer-by who helped me to ensure that everyone involved was brought to safety as quickly as possible with no injuries."

The mother-of-five had waved her husband off at about 7am and went back to sleep.

Ms Richards said the woman was shocked to discover the fire which had caused smoke damage inside the house as a result of the smashed windows.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene and the family were checked over.

Officers from Hounslow Homes also attended to see the extent of damage and repairs that would be required.

Hounslow Homes believe the internal damage was minimal and there was no need to decant the residents. 

Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade also attended.

The fire has been deemed as non-suspicious.