A FAMILY from East Cornwall were lucky to escape with their lives after a blaze ripped through their 400 year-old farmhouse this week.

Four fire crews from Callington, Liskeard and Saltash were called to Old Clims Farm at Pempwell soon after 4.30am on Monday where they found the listed building engulfed in flames.

Kevin Rookley, of Callington Fire Brigade, said: ?It took the crews and four appliances around three hours to get the fire under control.

?Luckily there is a large pond on the site so we were able to pump gallons of water onto the flames which would have been difficult from a hydrant.

?The family were fortunate to escape ? the battery in their smoke alarm was flat so they might have had no warning but the mother was woken by a noise and discovered the fire.

?She got her husband and two children out of the house and called us.?

The farmhouse suffered severe fire and water damage leaving the first floor all but destroyed and the chimney stack structurally unsafe.

The family are currently staying with neighbours as the farm is uninhabitable, however its listed status means it will eventually be rebuilt.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused when a wooden beam in the chimney stack, which may have been smouldering for up to two days, finally burst into flame.