A COUPLE praised firefighters for their quick work to prevent a blaze from destroying the entire roof of their ‘dream’ thatched cottage.

Five fire crews battled the flames to stop them from spreading throughout the Pepper Street home in Appleton Thorn.

Former England and St Helens rugby league player Harry Pinner and his wife Anne, had lit the fire in their living room when they spotted the flames on Sunday lunchtime.

Harry, the former landlord of the Parr Arms in Grappenhall, said: “It was unbelievable.

“I was settling down to watch TV when Anne said there was a lot of smoke coming from the chimney.

“A few minutes later I checked back and could see the flames all along the ridge and inside the flames were moving across the roof of our bedroom.”

Embers from the fire started the blaze in what thatchers described as ‘a one in a million chance’.

Firefighters tackled the flames inside and outside the cottage and used scaled roof ladders to make a fire break in the thatch.

Crews and neighbours also helped remove furniture from the house to stop the flames spreading further.

Firefighters were at the scene until after 8pm with everyone escaping without injury including the couple’s four bulldogs and West Highland terrier.

Harry, aged 53, added: “It’s been such a shock but we want to thank our neighbours and the firefighters for doing such a good job.

“We bought the cottage 30 years ago as a place to retire to and two months ago we just got it spot on.

“It’s a real shame but it could have been a lot worse.”