THE mother of two children told last night how the family escaped from a house blaze caused by a firework being pushed through their letterbox.

Lindsay Price fled her Darlington home with her five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter after what fire brigade chiefs condemned as a dangerous prank.

Miss Price and her children, Joshua and Ebony, as well as her 12-year-old sister, Nicola, were asleep in the house in Marrick Avenue, on the Branksome estate, when the fire broke out on Saturday morning.

The firework was shoved through the front door at about 12.45am. The occupants were alerted by neighbours shouting and banging on the windows.

Miss Price, 22, said: "I'm a deep sleeper and if it hadn't been for my neighbours I don't think we'd be here today.

"I heard shouting and looked out of the bedroom window. My neighbour was shouting 'Get out, you need to get the kids and get out, there's a fire'."

Nicola, who suffers from asthma, was treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire service spokesman Stuart Errington said: "This just highlights the fact that what somebody sees as a prank could have fatal consequences."

People living nearby told firefighters that a group of youths was seen in the area at the time.

Miss Price said the children's clothes, shoes and other belongings had been ruined by smoke.

Christmas presents bought for the youngsters were also ruined and had to be thrown away.