A MOTHER and her teenage son had a narrow escape when fire tore through their home in the early hours of yesterday.

The pair managed to flee through thick smoke from their burning home, wearing only their nightclothes.

But their home in Nosterfield, near Masham, North Yorkshire - which was not insured - suffered severe damage in the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Firefighters were called to the house just after 3am and when the first crew from Masham arrived the fire had already burst through the first-floor bedroom window.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus removed roof tiles to allow heat and smoke to escape and prevent the flames spreading to the neighbouring house.

The officer in charge, Assistant Divisional Officer Nigel Phillips, said the cause was an electrical fault caused by an overloaded socket.