FAMILIES fled their homes as a fire engulfed their thatched roofs.

The cottages in Compton Beauchamp, near Faringdon, were almost destroyed when the flames took hold on Wednesday night.

Sixty firefighters from Oxfordshire and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services tackled the blaze after it broke out at 9.30pm, clambering onto a ladder to hose it down from a height.

Paul Bremble, group manager of the Oxfordshire fire service, said: “The fire in the thatched roof took hold very quickly, as the two properties are joined and the thatched roof covers both properties, this was a large fire and fire crews have put in great effort to try to extinguish the fire and salvage possessions from both properties. 

"The owners of the properties did the correct actions in getting out quickly and calling the emergency services. It always pays to have a fire plan in case of such incidents happening."

He thanked the crews and the hazardous area response team, which sent an ambulance, to help fight the "difficult and challenging incident". 

Ten fire engines were dispatched, with masked crews scurrying in and out of the house to take possessions to safety.

A spokesman for the fire service said it is not yet known what caused the fire and that investigations were ongoing. 

Firefighters will remain at the cottages for the next couple of days.