A SMOKE alarm could have prevented a blaze that killed one boy and left his younger brother fighting for his life, say fire officers.

The tight-knit community of Spennymoor, County Durham, is still reeling from the fire that gutted the bedroom where Carl Taylor, seven, and his half-brother Stephen, four, were playing.

Carl, who lived with his grandparents John and Christine Taylor, had just enjoyed a birthday party at their home in Wood Vue before disaster struck on Monday night.

Stephen's family have not left his bedside at Newcastle General Hospital, where he clings to life despite horrific burns.

Other relatives, including his uncles and an aunt who had been in the house with the boys, were too upset to talk about the tragedy yesterday, as was friend John Sugden, who rushed into the house to save Stephen as the fire took hold.

As a procession of grieving friends and neighbours placed flowers outside the three-bedroomed house, the fire brigade spoke out in the hope it could save other families from the same ordeal.

Assistant Divisional Officer Ian Dockerty said: "We can't say for certain whether a smoke alarm might have averted this tragedy but it definitely would have bought more time, giving early warning to one of the babysitters.''

Firefighters have been so upset by the incident that the brigade has decided to step up its home fire safety campaign earlier than planned.

Yesterday. fire community safety officers were in the town searching for a venue to hold a meeting as soon as the pain of the tragedy has eased.

Mr Dockerty said: "We are constantly trying to educate the public about the dangers of fire.

"There are still a lot of houses in Durham and Darlington that don't have smoke alarms and they could save lives.''