A hero schoolboy saved his family from their burning home just moments before it was engulfed in flames.

Luke Crispin, nine, roused his three sleeping brothers when plumes of thick smoke filled their bedroom.

The family managed to escape from the blazing two-bedroom building minutes before it was gutted by fire.

Tonight mother-of-four Judith Eighteen praised her quick thinking son for saving their lives - as fire bosses were left amazed that the family escaped in one piece.

Luke, who attends St Nicolas Junior School in Locks Hill, Portslade, raised the alarm after smelling smoke in the house in Hamilton Close, Mile Oak, Portslade, at about 3am today.

He woke older brother Ross, 15, who roused Zack, nine, and Liam, 12, as well as their sleeping mother.

Firefighters say the blaze, which had been started by a candle left on top of the TV, would have killed the family if they had slept any longer.

Ms Eighteen, 36, said: "If it wasn't for Luke waking up when he did we wouldn't be here now.

"I am very proud of him and Ross for making sure we all got out.

"The fire brigade said if we were a couple of minutes longer we wouldn't have made it out.

"My children were standing in the street in their underwear because they didn't even have time to get their clothes.

"We have lost everything but it was only material things which can be replaced and the most important thing is my children."

All five were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton suffering from smoke inhalation but nobody was seriously hurt.

The family have praised Hyde Housing Association for quickly relocating them to a three-bedroom house in Medmerry Hill, Moulsecoomb.

Ms Eighteen said: "The new house is empty and it looks like Christmas will be cancelled again this year.

"Last December we were burgled and they took everything, including all the presents.

"But we have to be positive and hopefully our new house will give us better luck."

Luke said: "I woke up and there was smoke everywhere.

"Our feet were bleeding because we had stepped on broken glass to get out.

"I felt pretty proud of myself when we got outside."

Ross, who attends Hove Park School, in Nevill Road, Hove, saved the family's pet dog, Jack, who he led downstairs.

He said: "I woke to see a really thick cloud of smoke.

"We were lucky because when we got outside the flames went up behind us."

Neighbour Nikki Morgan, 36, took the children into her home whilst fire crews tackled the blaze.

She said: "I heard some crying and when I looked outside I could see smoke billowing out of the house."

Pamela Willemse's home in Herebell Drive backs on to the fire-ravaged house.

She said: "I woke up just after 3am after hearing this almighty crash.

"I looked out of the window and saw these enormous flames leaping out of their kitchen, it was a real inferno.

"Half an hour later when the firefighters arrived there were these great black billows of smoke coming out."

Two crews from Hove were called to tackle the blaze and were at the scene for about two hours.

The Red Cross fire victim support van was also called out to help the family.

Hove fire station watch manager Graham Rudman said: "They have had the luckiest escape I have ever seen.

"When we arrived smoke and flames were coming out of the ground floor and spreading up to the first floor.

"The fire was very severe but we were able to bring it under control and put it out relatively quickly."

A Hyde Housing Association spokeswoman said: "We are providing emergency housing for the residents of Hamilton Close following a severe fire in the early hours of this morning.

"Thankfully all the residents escaped unharmed and we have found them temporary accommodation in a previously void property in Brighton, whilst investigations into the required property repairs are carried out."