A couple just weeks away from the birth of their first child have seen their home gutted by fire.

Eight fire crews were sent to tackle the blaze at the large thatched property near Edmondsham in East Dorset just before 6pm on Saturday night.

Owners Lucy and James, who asked the Daily Echo not to use their full names, could only look on in horror as the family home they have shared for almost 18 months was engulfed by flames.

Lucy told the Echo it “hadn’t sunk in”, but praised the efforts of the firefighters who managed to save treasured items including furniture handed down from grandparents, wedding photos and Lucy’s engagement ring.

“I was amazed at how many people turned up and the amount they managed to salvage,” she said.

“Most of the irreplaceable things, the sentimental things are out. They went back in there this morning to get my engagement ring which was stuck upstairs. The fire service has gone way beyond what you would expect.

“They asked ‘what do you want us to get and where is it’ and then they went in and got it. Until it was unsafe to do so they continued to go in and get stuff out.

The couple were only alerted to the danger when someone knocked on the door after seeing flames coming from the roof.

“We were lucky – we got out before there was a problem, our cat got out, and we are all fine. Nobody came to any physical harm.”

Just weeks away from welcoming their baby, they had prepared the nursery and had everything in place for the new arrival. They are now facing a complete rebuild of their home.

But they have been inundated with offers of help, said Lucy.

“Our work colleagues have offered to help; all our neighbours came around last night and offered somewhere to stay. I can’t really thank everybody enough for the support they’ve given.”

Dorset Fire and Rescue Group Manager Andy Fox said five engines had been dispatched initially – the standard attendance for a thatch property – but three more were sent after it became clear the roof was well alight.

He said: “The roof was already totally involved in fire and unfortunately there was no way we were going to save it – but the crews did an absolutely brilliant job of salvage.”