A FOUR-year-old girl saved her family by raising the alarm when fire broke out in her home.

Tifany Irwin started to shout and scream when she saw the fire, and bought her sleeping family valuable time.

The chip pan fire destroyed the kitchen of the house in Micklow Close, Redcar, early yesterday.

Father Perry Irwin, 27, said: "We wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Tifany. She was shouting and screaming. She said to me 'my eyes are stinging Dad, and look at the house'.

"The kitchen is gutted, I can't believe it."

After spotting the flames, Tifany woke up her mother Anna Melvin, 23, who woke Mr Irwin. He ran upstairs to get the other children.

She said: "It was a big shock to wake up at that time and find your kitchen on fire. I'm devastated."

Station Officer Jim Ruse said: "The kitchen was destroyed. If people could see the devastation caused by a chip pan fire, I'm sure they would take more care. This family is very lucky to be alive.

"A working smoke alarm would have given them more time, and this could be the difference between getting out with a bit of smoke inhalation and not getting out at all."