TERRIFIED families were evacuated in the middle of the night amid fears that their entire terrace would go up in flames.

Police officers who had spotted the blaze while out on patrol, banged on neighbours' doors to tell them to get out of their homes,

The drama happened in Montserrat Road at 3am today and a fire crew, with three fire engines, spent 45 minutes tackling the blaze.

“My children were screaming in terror and I was in shock,” said Miss Samantha Thomas, who was among the five families to be evacuated.

“There were huge flames shooting out of the doors and windows, and the roof was glowing. I’ve never seen anything like it, it was awful.”

The fire began in the central hall area of number 95. The owner, named by his neighbours as Colin Court, was out at the time and had still not returned by mid-morning on Sunday.

Mr Court, aged 35, has his own scaffolding business and is believed to have lived at the address for around five years.

Neighbour Allan Jilkes said he was caring for Mr Court's cat which escaped the blaze.

Watch manager officer, Craig Cubbins, said: “There was severe fire and smoke damage to 100 per cent of the inside of the property.”

He said a full investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire.

Miss Thomas, aged 32, lives nearby with her four young children.

She said: “I had fallen asleep on the couch with my three youngest children. Fortunately, my eldest son, Jack, was upstairs and was woken by the sound of the windows smashing in the heat.

“He came running downstairs and the next thing I knew the police were banging on the door, telling us to get out.”

Miss Thomas grabbed her children, who were in their nightclothes, wrapped them in blankets and fled the house. They assembled in the road with neighbours from the other four houses who had also been evacuated.”

The family did not return to their home until 8.30 in the morning, having slept at a friend’s house.

Firefighters were still at the scene this morning and said they expected to be there all day today removing the charred contents to prevent the fire re-igniting.

The blaze was reported at 2am by police who spotted it while on patrol in Montserrat Road, Bolton.

Three fire appliances were needed to tackle the blaze in the terraced house.

Red Watch manager for Bolton Central, Ian Ainsworth, said: “It was a severe fire and it took around 45 minutes to extinguish it.

“There was extensive fire and smoke damage to all floors, the roof and the roof void.”

A search of the house revealed that there were no occupants at the time.