Leyton, 7, hailed a hero as family rescued from flat inferno in Preston

Leyton Roberts raised the alarm at around 4.20am after smelling smoke and dashing into his mother's bedroom shouting "mum, mum, the house is on fire."

Mother Rachel, her partner Adam Young, Leyton, two-year-old sister Lillie and family friend Jordan Watkins were all rescued by firefighters with ladders after they had barricaded themselves into the back bedroom until help arrived. The family pet dog was also saved.

"We're all lucky to be alive," said Rachel outside the charred remains of the rented flat in Duke Street, Preston. "If it hadn't been for Leyton smelling the smoke and the quick action of the fire brigade, it could have been a lot worse. Thankfully we're all alright.

"Leyton was really brave. He didn't panic and didn't cry. He was a little hero."

All five occupants were suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation after their rescue. Both children and friend Jordan were taken to hospital for check-ups, but later released.

Police and fire experts have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze which led to the evacuation of the block in the Avenham area of the city.

Neighbours who witnessed the drama unfold fear the blaze could have been started deliberately in a pile of rubbish which had been left outside following a flat clearance the day before.

One, Paul Hayes, who lives across the road, said: "That can't have been an accident at four o'clock in the morning. Some idiot's been passing and set that on fire.

"For God sake, there were people asleep in there and they had no way of getting out. They were trapped. They could have all been killed."

Crews from Preston and Penwortham raced to the scene after getting numerous 999 calls at around 4.20am.

Firefighters tackled the blaze at the front of the building while others wearing breathing apparatus rescued the occupants down ladders from a rear bedroom window.

First out was toddler Lillie who was passed to a firefighter through the window by Adam. Then mum and Leyton were helped down the ladder wearing fire service smoke hoods. Finally Jordan and then Adam were brought down.

The blaze was so severe it almost completely destroyed the first floor flat and even melted cladding on apartments opposite.

Shaking from their ordeal, Rachel and Adam talked to the Post outside the remains of their home. Still wearing the dressing gown she had been rescued in, Rachel said: "I don't know why anyone would want to start a fire like that. I know this area has had a name in the past, but it's much better now. It's quite quiet.

"The kids' bedroom is at the front and they both have cabin beds against the front wall. So the fire was right under where they were.

"Someone has deliberately set it alight at the front. Maybe it was for fun, who knows?

"When Leyton came into our bedroom and told us there was a fire, I ran downstairs and I could see the window had already cracked. I could see flames shooting up. Then the smoke alarm went off.

"We had no way out, so we all got into the back bedroom, shut the door and packed a towel under the door to keep the smoke out.

"We were talking to the fire brigade and they were advising us what to do. They told us to get on the floor so we could breathe better. We said we were trapped, we couldn't get out because there was a big fire at the front.

"Then a fireman came up a ladder and we opened the window. Adam passed Lillie out to him and then we were all brought down by the fire crew. They were brilliant. They got there so quickly, in maybe three minutes. It happened that fast."

Adam said: "We can't thank them enough - and all the neighbours who phoned 999 as well.

"It was a real shock. Horrible. Why would anyone want to do that?"

Neighbour William Gray was the first one to ring the fire brigade after seeing the flames shooting up the front of the building from the window of his flat across the road.

"I saw this orange light and then, all of a sudden, it turned into a massive blaze. After I called 999 I went to the end of the street to direct the fire engines and ambulances in. They were all there very fast."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We were made aware of a fire at a property in Duke Street, Preston, at 4.29am today (October 2).

"No arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting log 0160."