A pregnant mum has described how she had to flee her home along with her three children as a devastating fire broke out.

The shocked community is rallying to support families who have lost everything in a huge blaze that started in the utility room of a terraced property in Douglas Road, Lenham, at around 8pm on Sunday (June 15).

The flames quickly spread to neighbouring homes and five families had to be evacuated.

One house has been completely gutted. The neighbouring property has been very seriously damaged, especially on the upper floor, and is uninhabitable. Three other properties also suffered damage, either from the flames or from smoke and water.

Only one family has so far been able to return back to their property.

Pregnant mum Jade Cleggett, 30, was at home watching TV, when the blaze started.

She told KentOnline: “I saw all this smoke out the window, then suddenly my neighbour was banging on the front door shouting that we had to get out.”

Ms Cleggett grabbed her three children, aged 12, nine and four, and fled.

She said: “We had only moved in four weeks ago and I hadn’t even met my neighbours before then. It wasn’t the best introduction.”

Ms Cleggett, who is five months pregnant with her fourth child, said: “I’m still in shock. We’ve lost everything, all our clothes, everything. It’s heartbreaking.

“Our dining room and kitchen survived the flames, but even there everything has been ruined by smoke and water.”

Fortunately, Ms Cleggett is a Golding Homes tenant and the housing association has temporarily put the family up in the Travelodge in Ashford.

She said: ”Golding Homes have been very good looking after us. They say we can stay in the hotel for a week, while they find us more permanent accommodation.”

“But we won’t be able to go back into our own home until it is rebuilt.”

The family living in the property where the fire started, a couple with a baby, are thought to be staying with relatives. They were described by a neighbour as “still numb”.

They are believed to have lived on the street for around six years.

Neighbour Emily Russ, who has lived in the street for 11 years, threw her doors open to shelter everyone on the night of the blaze.

She said: “I just scooped up all the children and took them inside. For the rest of the night, my home was the meeting place - and the public toilet.”

Ms Russ, who lives opposite the fire-damaged homes, added: “When we first saw smoke, we thought it was just a bonfire, but then suddenly there were flames coming through the roof.

“It all went up like mad, but thank goodness the fire brigade were here so quickly, otherwise a lot more homes would have been destroyed.”

Nine fire engines and around 55 firefighters fought the flames and initially had them out by 3am, but then hotspots kept flaring up until the blaze was finally extinguished at 6.30am the next day.

A fire crew stayed at the scene on Monday, while work was carried out by the accident investigation team. Kent Fire and Rescue has said the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Ms Russ added: “Everyone is rallying round trying to help - especially the two families that have lost everything other than what they were wearing.”

“At the house where the fire started, they have lost completely everything - with nothing salvageable, no stairs, nothing left.”

“I was already friends with Jade — we were at school together - I feel so sorry for her. She has lost her dream house.”

Lenham Social Club in the village’s High Street has been turned into a collection point where neighbours are dropping off donations to help the families.

In addition, two Go Fund Me pages have been set up - one for Jade and her partner Sean Psyenychaa, and one for the family whose home was destroyed.

Ms Russ said: “You can imagine how their lives have been turned upside down and the realisation has started to hit that they need everything once again, even down to the simple things like body wash, toothbrushes and school uniforms.

“So if anyone can spare anything at all. We would all be very grateful.”

Jade, a nursery assistant at Cherubs Pre-school in Linton, added: “We have been given so much support and so many donations. People’s generosity has been amazing.”

Rachel McFarlane, director of customer experience at Golding Homes, said: “Just one of the properties damaged by the fire in Douglas Road was home to Golding Homes customers.

“We’ve been speaking to the family since Sunday and will continue to support them during this distressing and challenging time.

“The family is safe and currently in a hotel. We’re working to secure a temporary home for them and doing all we can to help minimise the disruptive effect of this terrible incident.”