A scheme educating children in the dangers of fire has received the backing of a mother forced to flee her burning home.

Sonya Duggan scrambled together her five youngsters after a bedroom went up in flames. Fire investigators believe the blaze may have been started by two of her children playing with a lighter.

On Thursday the two brothers believed to the cause of the fire began a three-month course run by West Yorkshire Fire's child fire awareness team to drive home the dangers.

Twenty-four-year-old Miss Duggan, from Foston Lane, Fagley, said: "I would definitely encourage parents to ask the fire team to help them even if they don't think their children play with fire.

"Mine had never done this before but it is something boys, especially, seem to be interested in.

"Mums and dads should get help now rather than waiting until something really tragic happens."

The fire gutted the bedroom of Ryan, five, and Jordan, four, last Saturday evening. Miss Duggan said Jordan is still suffering from shock while baby Codie, just 17 months, has trouble sleeping after being woken up as fire swept through her brothers' neighbouring room.

The fire awareness team started in 1996 and figures for the Bradford area show that the number of fires involving children has fallen from 153 in 1997 to 77 last year.

Station Officer Richard Brabbs, and his team of four in Nelson Street, Bradford, devise programmes to suit the child's age.

He said: "We are trying to educate children in the danger and consequences of their actions.

"We have educational videos and material suitable to their ages and a programme of homework which they do with the parents once a week over three months.

"After this time we review the situation and about 85 per cent of the children no longer play with fire.

"If a child continues to play with fire, we refer them to their GP who may put them in touch with a child adviser to look further into the problem."

Station officer Brabbs added: ''What's important to accept is that many children are not just playing with fire out of curiosity, but for many it is an expression of emotional needs."

To find out more about the child awareness team, ring 01274 750400.