Mum heard loud pop before rushing to save kids' lives - now their home is destroyed

A family's life has been turned upside down after a toy car burst into .

Mum Jessica had been hanging out the washing in the back garden of Little Hulton, near Salford, Greater , on Sunday, when disaster struck. Little Reuben, 3, had been playing inside a toy electric car when Jessica heard a popping sound. Within minutes the toy caught fire and spread from the shed and over to the house. A for the family, and her mum, Hayley, told the how Jessica bravely grabbed Reuben and her other son Hunter, 6, before managing to escape the blaze.

"Jessica heard a pop and then there was a bang and it just burst into flames, it was actually next to the shed when it went up, so the shed automatically caught fire as well," she said. She then grabbed the little boys - one was in the living room, the other was outside in the back garden - and no sooner than when she got in the house it was filled with smoke, she couldn't see where her other little boy was but she managed to get him and get out.

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"It then set fire to all the fences, the windows burst and it went through the back of the house. So, she's basically been left with not much. We've had to get clothes off relatives, friends and family."

The young family have since moved from the council property to an AirBnB home and it is unclear when they might be able to return to the house due to extensive smoke damage, the fire tearing at the roof and even melting the pipe to the boiler.

Hayley said the majority of the family's belongings were lost in the fire but that fortunately they managed to escape without suffering any serious injuries.

"It actually spread to the neighbour's property as well, their windows blew," Hayley added. "They have two young children. They've moved out as well [and are] living in another property at the minute.

"We're not sure [if it was caused] by the heat from the Sun or if it was faulty itself but it was a hot day when he was out in the garden playing.

"We're not sure how it started just that it was from the electric car the got hot and burst into flames. She has been left with nothing."

Hayley praised the local community who have donated clothes to the family as well as the boys' school who have also been in touch with them to help. "Things can be replaced but people can't can they," Hayley added. "It could have been so much worse if Reuben was still in the car."

Friend Paige Robinson launched the campaign to raise £2,000 for the family. She said on the page: "They’ve lost everything due to the black smoke and could be placed In a property anywhere with no furniture and belongings.

"Jess is a beautiful girl her home is everyone’s home and she currently has bigger situations going on in her family life and I just don’t want money and stuff to be a stress or pressure on her mind. She would do anything for anyone and her little boys are left petrified without a home."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign has raised £445 out of a £2,000 target. Donated money will go toward helping the family as they navigate this difficult period.