ELDERLY residents who were rescued by neighbours as fire swept through their nursing home have praised those people who helped them.

Those living in Pinehurst Rest Home woke to commotion last week when a lightning strike sparked a fire on a half-built house in Harvey Road, Pokesdown, and spread to the nearby home.

Staff, with the help of brave residents, rushed to rescue the 10 people in the home and carry them to safety.

The evacuees were given chairs, blankets and drinks before the being taken to the Littledown Leisure Centre for shelter.

Nine residents were then moved to the Broadwaters residential support centre in Southbourne where they have remained ever since. Another resident was taken to hospital.

Now a week later they have spoken out about the frightening incident and praised Bournemouth Borough Council for their efforts in finding them temporary accommodation.

Christine Hodge, 83, had lived at Pinehurst for eight years. She said: "There was the most terrific bang, I thought it was two cars colliding. They next thing I heard was fire, get out'. We had to get out the house and in just two minutes there was a massive blaze. The flames were so high, you could feel the heat. One of the staff and a neighbour helped me. I want to say how grateful we are for all the carers have done here."

Keith May, 80, said: "I don't know who it was but I was helped by someone. As we walked down the starts the windows were cracking under the heat."

He added: "I want to say my grateful thanks for their help and what they gave us when we were outside.

"I cannot say enough about the staff here at Broadwaters, they have been wonderful."

And 87-year-old Cliff Tubbs said: "I just had enough time to scramble my shoes on. I had to get out as quickly as possible the heat was terrible. My goodness when I got outside it just reminded me of the blitz again."

Lilian Grech, 93, who was carried out of her ground floor room, said: "When the sparks were falling down it reminded me when the German bombers dropped incendiaries in London."

Gail Hurst, manager of Broadwaters, said: "We have found their spirit really amazing."

She said many of the residents have been reunited with their belongings but one person did lose a significant amount of possessions and centre staff have been trying hard to replace them.

She thanked Hibberd Court, sheltered housing accommodation, who donated toiletries and clothing.

Bournemouth council's older people's services had to make emergency arrangements to find accommodation for the evacuees.

They will now reassess the needs of each of the residents to find a long-term solution to suit the individual and their families.