TWO Suffolk families have been left devastated after a fire ripped through their homes causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.More than 30 firefighters from Long Melford, Sudbury, Clare and Bury St Edmunds were called to the semi-detached homes on the edge of the Lakforth estate in Bull Lane, Long Melford.

TWO Suffolk families have been left devastated after a fire ripped through their homes causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

More than 30 firefighters from Long Melford, Sudbury, Clare and Bury St Edmunds were called to the semi-detached homes on the edge of the Lakforth estate in Bull Lane, Long Melford.

Both couples and their six children are now staying in alternative accommodation while the damage is assessed and the cause of the fire investigated.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze when a passer-by noticed smoke billowing from the windows of one of the homes at around 2.30pm yesterday.

When the first crew arrived the blaze had totally destroyed the roof of the first home and spread to the adjoining property.

Fire officers in charge of the operation to extinguish the flames said it was fortunate no-one was in either home when the blaze broke out.

The first home, a four-bedroom property, where it is believed the fire started, was the most severely damaged. The flames gutted its entire roof and a substantial part of the first floor and the rest of the property was damaged by smoke and water.

James Moroney, who lives in the house with his wife Sue, and their four children, aged between nine and 16, said: "I am devastated at the moment, I have just spent a lot of money doing work on the house and then this happens.

"Thankfully nobody was in at the time, my wife had just popped out and when she came back the house was on fire. She called me and I came straight back from work. I think the fire started in my house and then spread next door, but we are not exactly sure what happened yet.

"We will have to find somewhere else to stay until we find out exactly how much damage there is," he added.

David Liczenko, lives next door to Mr Moroney with his partner Suzanne Gartland and their 10-week-old twin daughters.

He said: "I was at work when I got a call telling me my home was on fire. I am absolutely gutted, although it looks like most of the damage is in the roof we have not been able to see how bad it is."