Brave neighbours rushed to help residents flee burning properties after a fire ripped through a house in Fife.
Emergency crews rushed to Kirkland Gardens in Ballingry, Fif e, on Thursday night as the roof of a property on the street went up in flames.
Brave John Robertson, 56, who lives in a street behind the affected house, saw the fire take hold and ran to alert those inside and help get them to safety.
As John ran to the door, the couple were eating their evening meal and completely unaware that anything was wrong.
After he got the couple to safety, John was then joined by others who were quick to evacuate those living in the neighbouring properties.
The neighbours even climbed a ladder in a bid to douse the flames with a nearby garden hose before fire officers arrived - but the blaze was too strong.
Mercy crews arrived a short time later and spent three hours fighting the fire as it destroyed the roof of one of the houses and caused damage to the others.
John, of Ballingry Crescent, told the Record: "My wife Anne was in the kitchen when she said the neighbour's roof was on fire.
"I ran straight to the house and burst through the door, just roaring at them to get out.
"I think I gave them quite the shock but I just wanted to make sure they were safe.
"They had no idea what was happening, they were just eating their tea, so it's quite frightening to think what might have happened if Anne didn't see the flames.
"I ran out the back to try and put out the fire but we knew we were fighting a losing battle, there was nothing we could do."
John said the owners of the property, as well as neighbours nearby, have had to leave their properties as investigations get underway to assess the damage.
Shocking pictures show the flames take hold of the property as smoke billows from the top of the building.
And photos taken in the aftermath of the incident outline the damage done - with the roof of the property left badly damaged.
John added: "I'm just amazed at how quickly it spread in such a short amount of time and the damage it's caused.
"I don't even know the names of the couple, as they've only just moved in a few months ago and they've been getting a huge amount of work on.
"It's just devastating for them, they've had to leave as it's not safe and their neighbours either side have too."
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We attended a residential fire at property in Kirkland Gardens, Ballingry, at 17.25 after operation control mobilised three appliances and and one height appliance to the address.
"Crews lefts the scene at approximately 20.15."
