Richard and Janet Kent's home was always a popular place for their sons' friends to gather.

The couple's warm welcome and the cosy surroundings ensured a lively, friendly atmosphere.

But 11 months ago the Kents suffered a terrible double tragedy when the house in Fermor Way, Crowborough, caught fire.

The blaze destroyed the property and took the lives of their sons Alex, 25, and Philip, 23.

The devastating fire was captured on video but its enormity is still sinking in for Mr and Mrs Kent.

They have now returned to the home, which was once a charred shell but has been restored at a cost of £130,000.

Yesterday the couple told of their struggle to recover from the harrowing events of January.

They sat together in their new living room, surrounded by cards and flowers from well-wishers and the few ornaments salvaged from the flames.

Mr Kent, a chartered surveyor, said: "On the night of the fire we literally just had a pair of trousers and night clothes and that was it."

Mrs Kent added: "It was surreal. Whether it will ever really hit me I don't know.

"When I think about what happened I'm surprised I'm coping as well as I am. I still feel numb.

"When we lost the boys that was all that went round our minds for days. It had nothing to do with possessions."

Like their parents, Alex and Phil were popular in the community.

They were huge sports fans, playing golf, rugby, football and cricket.

The family has lived in the town for 30 years and has a supportive network of friends and neighbours.

Mr Kent said: "The boys' friends have been wonderful."

Pals of Alex and Phil gave the Kents lockets with their sons' pictures in and others handed over treasured photographs to replace those lost in the fire.

Alex's heroism on the night has been well documented.

He, his brother and a group of friends had been out to watch a football match and came back to the house late.

Alex, a firefighter who stayed with friends near the station when he was working, was off duty that evening and had fallen asleep in his parents' lounge.

He awoke to find the room on fire. After waking his parents and guiding them through the smoke and heat to safety, he returned for his brother, who was still slumbering.

Mr and Mrs Kent say they had no idea of the extent of the blaze until they got outside.

Mrs Kent said: "We were still half asleep and went out to move the cars.

"The curtains were so thick inside we couldn't even smell anything when we came down and Alex had closed all the doors."

Tragically, despite Alex's training and expertise, the intensity of the heat and smoke overcame him.

Philip, an assistant manager at a golf shop, was also unable to escape and died in the same room as his brother.

Firefighters called to the blaze had no idea it was the home of one of their colleagues until they arrived.

Four were hurt in the incident and the intense grief of the Kents was echoed among Alex's former workmates, who pulled both young men from the house.

With nothing but the clothes they were wearing, a few keepsakes and their two cats who escaped the inferno, the Kents started their life again from scratch.

Relatives put them up while the house was repaired and the Red Cross donated clothes and basic provisions.

Torn between turning their back on the house and all its memories or going back, the couple chose to stay in a community which had rallied to support them.

Mr Kent said: "We have just had enormous support from our neighbours. They have given us flowers and pots and even shrubs."

On the windowsill in the lounge are several pieces of pottery the boys painted for their mother and a family portrait takes pride of place above the fire.

The Kents are determined to ensure some good comes out of the horror they have been through.

Since that night they have campaigned relentlessly for sprinkler systems to be installed in homes.

They believe their tragedy would have been avoided had sprinklers been in place.

Mrs Kent said: "If we had had one here we would not have lost our boys."

Of the money spent restoring the house, £2,500 was spent installing a domestic sprinkler system.

Small pods on the ceiling look more like light fittings than life-saving pieces of equipment.

Two large cylinders filled with water are built into the back of the garage.

Mr Kent feels not enough value is placed on the systems.

He said: "The insurance company was really keen to make sure I had new locks on the door and on the windows."

The campaign for domestic sprinklers is backed by the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the Residential Sprinkler Association.

Mr and Mrs Kent are also determined to live fruitful, fulfilling lives while always remembering their lost loved ones.

The boys' rooms have become spare rooms, with space for Mrs Kent to carry out her craft activities.

To find out more about sprinkler systems, log on to www.firesprinklers.org.uk