A family who "lost everything" in a house fire have hailed their "hero" dogs for saving their lives by waking them up before their alarm.
Molly Appleton-Reeve, aged 24, and her twin sister Chloe, were in bed when their dogs started "manically" barking.
The pair got up to see what had set their five-year-old Bulldog, Coco, and 18-month-old Labrador Polly off, and minutes later the fire alarm started sounding.
Molly went to see if the dogs had accidentally knocked the oven on, whilst her sister went to check the living room – where she saw their armchair had caught fire.
Molly said: "By the time the fire alarm went off it was black smoke everywhere, we would've been in massive trouble if the dogs didn't get us up.
"They're our heroes, they were barking like mad.
"When I saw the armchair on fire, I threw a fire blanket over it but that just went up like tissue paper, it was too late. We grabbed the car keys and the dogs and ran out of the house."
The sisters, who were home alone in Bodmin when the fire broke out earlier this month, called their mum, Jacqui, and the emergency services whilst they waited outside.
Within five minutes, three fire engines had arrived at their bungalow to put out the huge blaze.
Molly said: "While we were waiting Coco, who's very strong, escaped from my arms and tried to run back into the house to get her favourite teddy.
"It was so black you couldn't breathe in there, there was no chance of us going back in. Thankfully she came back out and because she's so low to the ground she was fine.
"The fire services were absolutely lovely, they genuinely cared and took the time to come and speak to us.
"But within eight to ten minutes we'd lost absolutely everything. Watching it was almost like a dream, it was all slow motion, you never think it's going to happen to you."
The official cause of the fire remains 'undetermined'.
The dogs have been taken to the vet and are both okay – they were even given a new teddy to replace their beloved lost ones, which they both now treasure, said the family.
The family are temporarily living with Molly's grandmother in her bungalow, but have lost absolutely everything in the fire.
The living room and kitchen have been completely destroyed, and the rest of the house is severely smoke damaged, making the house uninhabitable.
Molly has set up a fundraiser to help the family get back on their feet whilst they wait for alternative accommodation. They have also been helped by their local community in the meantime.
She said: "It's been very humbling. We've always donated ourselves to places like our local foodbanks and charity shops, but to actually be in the position of the other side of the help is shocking and scary.
"Our insurance will cover basic repairs, but turns out we were under-insured on a few things like new electronics we'd gotten over the years – which you just don't think to update on your insurance.
"Because of this they've penalised us and taken 20% of the contents payout, so we'll have to pay for a lot of it ourselves, the fundraiser is to help with bills and essentials in the meantime.
"We want people to double check they're insurance is up to date, and that they're over-insured because you never think you'll end up in this position."
Molly, who is a full-time carer for her sister and is studying to become a paramedic, said the family are "extremely grateful" for the support they've received and for their furry friends who saved their lives.
A local clothes bank have donated the family clothes, and a skip company have offered to loan a skip to the family to help them with the costs of clearing out their destroyed home.
Molly added: "We're so grateful for everyone's help – reading and sharing the fundraiser. I don't know how we're going to repay people for their kindness.
"Thank you doesn't seem like a big enough word, it's made this traumatic experience a little bit easier.
"Make sure you hug your family tighter and most of all, appreciate your dogs because they could save your life."
You can donate to Molly's fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/f/uju4k-family-house-fire-lost-everything
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