A MOTHER and five children had to flee as a fire engulfed their 14th Century home in Appleton.

The mother had been putting the children to bed at the house in Netherton Road at about 8.30pm on Tuesday when a fire alarm was activated and they noticed smoke upstairs.

The family called 999 and got out of the house. Fire crews from all over the county were called. At its peak there were 10 fire engines at the scene and 60 firefighters.

Most of the house, which dates back to the 1300s, was destroyed.

Richard Dick, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, and his wife Felicity live opposite the house.

Mrs Dick said: “The flames were about 40ft high. It was horrendous.

“Thank God those children got out alive with their mother.”

Residents opened the village hall at 10pm to provide somewhere warm for the firefighters to rest out of the snow, while a team of 10 volunteers from the Appleton Community Shop provided refreshments and hot drinks for them.

Shop director Carol Bateman said: “I got a phone call and just gathered as much tea, coffee and biscuits as I could and took them to the hall. We were just happy to help out.”

Abingdon fire station manager Graham Turner said yesterday: “The snow made it more difficult to get to but we actually made good time.

“When the crews arrived, they were faced with quite a serious fire that spread quickly.

“It’s a very old building, which made it dangerous for us.

“We’ve controlled the fire, but are still dampening down the hotspots.”

The cause of the fire was under investigation but it was not thought to be suspicious.