A HOMEOWNER who returned from the supermarket to find her home damaged by fire has described it as “devastating”.Three fire crews from Ipswich and Woodbridge were called out to the large detached property on Saxon Way, off Bury Hill, Woodbridge, at about 6.

A HOMEOWNER who returned from the supermarket to find her home damaged by fire has described it as “devastating”.

Three fire crews from Ipswich and Woodbridge were called out to the large detached property on Saxon Way, off Bury Hill, Woodbridge, at about 6.20pm last nightwith reports of a fire in a bedroom.

The upstairs of the property quickly became thick with smoke which also spread into the loft and caused extensive damage to belongings.

Owner Gillian Steer said: “I came back from the supermarket and we were quite devastated at the damage.

“It was a shock, a complete shock and we did not know what was what.

“There is extensive damage upstairs but not much downstairs and we have lost lots of belongings of sentimental value.”

Assistant divisional officer Geoff Pyke said: “It was a serious fire in the master bedroom but the smoke has caused all the damage to the property.

“The crews worked hard, facing difficult conditions with the large volume of smoke.

“My advice is that homeowners should have working smoke detectors on each level and make sure the people in the home are aware of the fire plan in event of a fire.

“It is also important to make sure that everybody has a fire plan on how to get out of a property.”