Five children and four adults in hospital after Bristol house fire

Neighbours helped rescue nine people who were caught in a "roaring inferno" at a house in Bristol.

Fire crews were called to a "developed fire" on the ground and first floor of the property on Lodge Hill in Cossham at about 06:40 GMT.

A three-year-old boy was handed through a window to a neighbour who came out after hearing screams of "fire".

Nine people, including four children and a baby were taken to the city's Frenchay Hospital for treatment.

A Great Western Ambulance Service spokeswoman said a three-year-old boy was the most seriously injured and was being treated for burns.

The other victims, including a five-month old girl, a two-year-old boy, two eight-year-old girls, two teenagers, a woman aged in her 20s and a man in his 40s, were taken to the hospital as a precaution, the spokeswoman said.

Lionel Fear, who lives three doors up from the house, said: "I came downstairs to see the mother with three children on the lower roof, and me and the neighbours put a ladder up, clambered up the ladder and brought as many of them down as we could until the fire brigade arrived.

"There was a three-year-old who was handed out through the front to a neighbour. I think he's very lucky to get out alive, to be honest."

"It was a roaring inferno. At one stage, when I was up the ladder, something popped or a window blew, I was just carrying a baby down and it obviously scared the baby as there was some shards and shrapnel came out and landed on him."

Mr Fear, 30, added: "I'm just so glad everyone got out."

Six people escaped unaided. An adult and two children were rescued from the roof of the property by crews, an Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said.

Crews remain at the scene, which has been cordoned off while an investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.