A young boy saved his family and pets from further harm in a house fire by realising what was going on and being the first to react.

The fire broke out in the family home as a dishwasher had been left on a timer, but there was no smoke alarm fitted.

The young boy was first to wake, and when he realised what was going on, raised the home's alarm system, waking the rest of the family.

Due to the high density of smoke, the family and their cat and dog couldn't escape via the stairs, so climbed out of a bedroom window onto the front porch roof.

The kitchen door of the house, in Foxlydiate Crescent, Redditch, was closed when the fire broke out, which prevented it from spreading.

Group Commander George Marshall said "The family did not have smoke alarms installed in their home but luckily the young boy woke up and raised the alarm.

"A smoke alarm provides an early warning and will give you more time to escape so we urge people to fit a working smoke alarm on every level of their home and ensure they are tested on a weekly basis.

"The kitchen door being shut contained the fire and stopped it from seriously spreading. Please ensure that before you go to bed that you shut your doors, turn off your appliances and have that all important escape plan."

Three fire engines from Redditch attended the incident, and using triple extension ladder, firefighters rescued the stranded family and their pets before tackling the fire.

The crews used breathing apparatus sets to enter the building and a hose reel was used to extinguish the fire.

The family were taken to hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation.

Firefighters have also installed smoke alarms at the house.

It happened at 1.37am on Wednesday, May 20.