HUMPHREY the hamster had a lucky escape when firefighters rescued him from a smoke-filled bedroom in Gravesend today.

Jean Leggatt and her husband were inside their home in Leith Park Road when a fire started in their daughter’s upstairs bedroom.

On hearing their smoke alarm the couple managed to get out along with their two cats and dog.

However poor Humphrey was on his own trapped upstairs.

Unusually, the fire was caused by sunlight shining on a concave make-up mirror, which then focussed the heat from the light onto bedding and caused the fire.

Luckily though, firefighters had the blaze out in half an hour, and Humphrey safe and sound.

Mrs Leggatt said: “My husband first heard the smoke alarm sounding and our immediate reaction after seeing the smoke was to get out of the house.

“We got the dog and our cats out, but it was too risky to go upstairs to get Humphrey.

“The firefighters did a fantastic job and got here really quickly and although my daughter’s bedroom has been gutted, they managed to save her beloved hamster.”

Thames-side watch manager Lawrence Pater said working alarms in the house alerted the Leggats to the fire in the nick of time.

Mr Pater said: “Although the cause of this incident is really unusual, I think that this family were really fortunate.

“The smoke alarms alerted them to the fire before it had a chance to get hold of the property, giving us enough time to contain it to its source and rescue the hamster.

“Without the smoke alarms early warning the Leggatts might not have had the time needed to get out safety and the damage to the property could have been far more extensive.”

Mrs Leggatt says she only fitted a smoke alarm in her home after her eldest son received a talk on the importance of fire safety and having a working smoke alarm.

She said: “Most of us know that we should have a working smoke alarm, but I suspect - as I had - that many just don’t get round to fitting them.

“I’m so pleased that my son forced us to fit them, as today we were proved how worthwhile they are. I count myself as really lucky and would urge everyone to get them as you and your family’s safety is absolutely paramount.”