A Stockbridge mother has spoken of her fears for her four children during a suspected arson attack at their home.

Sam Downton and her children had to be rescued from a bedroom by Keighley firefighters on Monday night. She had grabbed Alesha, ten, Ashley, six, Leon, three, and seven-month-old Kiera after being alerted to the blaze.

The fire in the kitchen of the terraced house in Florist Street is believed to have been started by flaming materials being pushed through the letterbox.

Ms Downton, 35, was woken just before 10pm by barking from the family’s dog Rocky, then she heard smoke alarms.

A neighbour phoned the fire service as the family took refuge in Alesha’s bedroom and closed the door.

Firefighters led the family to safety down the stairs and through the front door while others fought the fire.

Fire service investigators and Keighley police are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Ms Downton said her family, who moved into the house about a year ago, had all been in bed by 9pm on Monday.

She said: “I was scared for the children. I was more bothered about getting them out.

“At one point I contemplated dropping them out of the windows for the neighbours.

“Once I got them out I went back in for the dog.”

Stephen Moorhouse, watch commander at Keighley Fire Station, said the fire was limited to the kitchen, which suffered smoke damage.

A police spokesman said: “At present we are investigating with fire officers.”

Police could not confirm whether or not the incident was arson as the Keighley News went to press.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact DC Nick Jackson by calling the new non-emergency number 101.