A woman has spoken of her devastation after a fire tore through her home, destroying everything she had.

Eight fire engines were sent to Pilsdon Close in Beaminster last Thursday morning after a fire broke out in Catherine Lee’s home, one of eight homes on a terrace.

She says it has destroyed her Magna home, as well as it also affecting a neighbouring property. Thankfully no one was injured.

Although she had a working fire alarm, it was her neighbour that woke her up and alerted her to what was happening.

She said: “It happened outside in the back [garden]. I had a bamboo gazebo out there and if it wasn’t for my neighbour - she woke me up, knocked on the door and was shouting - I wouldn’t have known anything about it.

“The house is totally destroyed - it is totally gone.

“It was the sound of the bamboo and the flames - it even blew gas bottles and took out all the windows - it was just horrific, it was so frightening. The ceilings are down and some of the walls have gone down to the brick.

“It was a rental property, but at the end of the day it was my home.”

Catherine wants to warn people about how quickly the fire spread and the importance of having home insurance.

She added: “Within 10 minutes it was just exploding, the flames were everywhere, and it took my neighbour’s lean-to as well and all of the fences have gone.

“I wasn’t insured, and I would say to people, ‘for goodness sake get insurance’. I have learnt a lesson now; you can’t replace photographs and memories.”

Catherine would also like to say a “big thank you” to the fire service, who were “absolutely terrific and fantastic”.

John Wilmot, housing services manager at Magna who owns the property, said: “We have found alternative accommodation for the families involved and are doing all we can to make their properties safe after the fire.”

Firefighters spent a number of hours on scene to make it safe and to assist residents.

Jason Rogers, of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Firefighters found a large fire affecting the rear of the property in a lean-to conservatory, which was rapidly spreading into the building and roof space of the terrace.

"Two properties have been affected by this fire but there were no injuries and all persons were quickly accounted for.

"Six firefighters with breathing apparatus extinguished the fire with hose reel jets.

"The fire was quickly brought under control but had significantly affected the premises, roof structure and electrical and gas supplies."

Western Power and SGN were requested to assist the fire service in making the scene safe.

The cause of the fire is accidental and thought to be due to overheating of electrical cables.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Fire investigators believe the fire to have been caused by an extension lead that had multiple items running from it. The flex got too hot and ignited. In fact, during the investigation, multiple properties were found to have outhouses with extension leads running from the main properties powering fridges, freezers, washing machines and tumble driers.

"It is a stark warning to others to not overload extension cables and plug terminals."