IT'S A lesson they'll never forget. What seemed like harmless fun to Bobbie-Lee Spake and her two friends playing with matches quickly spiralled out of control putting the lives of dozens of people around them in danger.

The chilling realisation that they and others could have been killed has finally dawned on the nine-year-old schoolgirl from Marston Road in Thornhill.

Now shaken mum, Debbie, 45, has come forward to urge other young people not to put their lives in danger by fooling around with matches.

She said: "They should just not touch them. They are lethal and dangerous and could have hurt them or anyone else. I dread to think what could have happened if the fire brigade weren't here as quickly as they were.

"I think Bobbie has learnt her lesson. She won't touch them again."

Bobbie-Lee had been playing round at her friend's first-floor maisonette in the same block of flats where she lives when the fire broke out, leading to the evacuation of the whole building.

The youngsters from Thornhill Primary School had been passing round lit pieces of paper at about 8.30pm on Monday night when suddenly they became too hot for Bobbie-Lee to hold and were dropped on the floor.

Debbie added: "Bobbie said that's when they all jumped up and ran down to get help. I was at church at the time and came back to fire engines and thick choking smoke climbing up the windows and staircases. I couldn't believe it.

"Luckily no one was hurt, but it's a warning to other children not to do the same - it's just not safe."

Other neighbours came out of their flats for fear that the fire might spread. One neighbour was also treated for smoke inhalation.

Anne Line, a neighbour, who dragged her three children outside and waited for the fire brigade after being alerted to the fire, said: "It was petrifying. Everyone was screaming, windows were smashing and there was thick black smoke climbing up the building. But the fire crews were excellent."

She added: "I don't blame the kids. It's the kind of thing they do. But maybe it will make them think twice in future. I just glad no one was seriously hurt."

It took fire crews around two hours to put out the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the maisonette.

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Children shouldn't play with matches and we put a lot of effort into making them aware of the dangers. But we urge parents to do the same and to keep their matches and lighters out of reach. The consequences of playing with matches can be fatal."