A WOMAN had to jump from an upstairs window after the first floor of a house was gutted in a fire.

Neighbours were awoken by the sound of screams and saw flames and thick smoke pouring from upstairs windows when the blaze started at about 1.20am in Wardham Close, Daisy Hill.

A man and a woman were in the house at the time, but both managed to escape with only minor injuries.

The man ran out of a back door with his dog, while the woman had to jump from a first floor window.

She later tried to go back into the house, but was beaten back by flames and smoke.

The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and a burn to her foot, but was not taken to hospital.

The house has now been boarded up and the occupants, who rented the property, are thought to be staying with friends.

The fire service is still investigating the cause, but it is thought to have been started by a candle or a faulty TV.

Firefighters fought the blaze for four hours, and watch commander Andy Horton said it was made worse because the smoke alarms were not working.

He said: “This was a severe fire. You should fit and regularly check your smoke alarms, and if you do suspect you have a fire, you should get out, call the fire service, and stay out.”