A Scottish couple were saved by their brave neighbours after having 'no idea' their home was on fire.
Emergency services had raced to the property in Fife on Thursday (June 2) after the entire roof quickly went up in flames.
Clearly seen for some distance away, local residents in Ballingry rushed to the home to try and help as the house became engulfed.
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One neighbour, John Robertson, 56, ran over to the house to alert the family inside, only to discover they had no idea what was happening above them.
Speaking to the Record, John said when he arrived at the front door, the couple inside had been eating their dinner and were unaware of the flames upstairs.
Ensuring the couple were outside as quickly as possible, John and other brave neighbours then evacuated people from the surrounding houses as the fire took hold.
In a last-minute attempt to help control the blaze, one neighbour even risked climbing a ladder with a garden house to try and extinguish the flames.
However, with the fire continuing to spread, the emergency services arrived and spent three hours trying to get it under control.
Sadly, the roof was completely destroyed in the house, with surrounding properties also sustaining damage.
John, of Ballingry Crescent, said: "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."
With investigations now underway into the extent of the damage, the residents of the house and those surrounding it have had to stay elsewhere for the time being.
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."
