Fire in Cranfield Road

She then saved herself and her baby and alerted their elderly next-door neighbour before contacting the emergency services.

Fire had started in the bedroom of the flat below where fire fighters rescued a middle-aged female occupant suffering severe smoke inhalation. She was said to be in critical condition as she was taken to the Conquest Hospital and placed on a ventilator.

Vicky Willard, of Hartwood Lodge in Cranfield Road, remembers being woken by "a crackling sound" in the early hours of Saturday morning. As the mother of seven month old Shay she is used to waking and a light sleeper.

The 36 year old said: "I heard a loud bang, or a pop, and that made me fully come to.

"I looked out of the bedroom window and it was like a wall of smoke.

"I didn't know where it was coming from so I moved to the kitchen window and realised either the building was on fire or it was close to the building. So then I just grabbed my baby, phone and keys, came out and knocked next door. I got him up and then we came out and phone the fire brigade."

She didn't panic at the time but commented this week: "It was a bit of a shock. I am a bit numb to it, but I was a bit tearful afterwards. I think I had to stay calm because of the baby - I couldn't be running around upset. He was having fun sitting inside the fire engine. It hasn't affected him whatsoever."

Vicky - whose home has minor smoke damage - was in a fire some years ago and said she recognised the same sound of burning wood.

"It was that crackling sound. At first I didn't know what it was. I thought it was kids having a bonfire or fireworks, but the loud bang brought me to. That is when I looked out of the window and saw the smoke.

"I am just a mother. My mum thinks I woke up so promptly because I am a mother. I was in a fire a few years back so I am very aware of that crackling noise. I still don't sleep properly - the slightest things wake me up."