A MOTHER-of-four today warned of the danger of children playing with matches after a blaze at her Hampshire home.

Ellen Jury does not keep matches in her home, but her family was forced to flee for their lives after one of her children got hold of a box bought for a camping trip.

Quick-thinking Ms Jury managed to get her family to safety, but a child's bedroom, hallway and stacks of toys were destroyed in the blaze yesterday.

Housewife Ms Jury, 37, said: "We don't have matches in the house at all, so much so that we have to go next door to light a candle. I'm always so careful with matches. My grandfather was a fire officer."

In a message to other parents, Ms Jury, who lives at Flamborough Close, Maybush, Southampton said: "Be very, very careful. I'm careful, I have only got them for camping and only bought them on Thursday.

"Never, ever did I think it would happen to me. My grandfather was a fire officer. Everything gets unplugged. I only bought the matches yesterday (THURS) and put them on the shelf. That was all."

Ms Jury, who has four children, Lawrence, 14, Rebecca, 13, Timothy, seven, and Beverley, six, said: "I had just got out of the bath. Tim had locked the door. I noticed there was trouble when Bev came running to tell me."

After getting the children to safety, she tried to put the fire out with damp towels before shutting all the doors creating an airlock.

Ms Jury and three children were treated for smoke inhalation but last night (FRI) were allowed to return home.

She said: "There is a lot of smoke damage, but I'm going to stay here, we have really good neighbours."

Firefighters wearing breathing sets were called to tackle the flames at the terraced property at 12.20pm yesterday(FRI).

Leading firefighter Nigel Bruty said: "Three children who were in the house were playing with matches bought for a camping trip for one of the older children.

"It set fire to toys and a pine bunk bed in the bedroom.

"We had to remove a double-glazed window because it was badly cracked from the heat."

Two appliances from Redbridge station plus the victim support unit from Hightown attended the emergency.