Five people, including two young children, escaped from their burning home early today.

The man, 28, was being treated in intensive care in hospital after suffering head and back injuries when he jumped to safety from the blaze at the semi-detached house in Roberson Terrace, Gomersal.

Another occupant, the children’s 51-year-old grandmother, escaped from the ground floor of the property.

Police said the fire started in the ground floor as the couple and their children slept upstairs.

All five were outside after help from neighbours by the time firefighters arrived shortly after 3.30am.

Three crews battled the fire for four hours and the family was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambu-lance.

The father was suffering from head and back injuries, and was conscious but was being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Police described his condition as serious.

The mother, a 36-year-old woman believed to be called Kelly, suffered leg injuries and the two children – boys aged one and two – were treated for smoke inhalation.

Police said they believed the blaze started in the kitchen but they were still working with the fire service to investigate the incident.

Stephen Griffiths, 50, and his son Conor, 13, of Barrington Parade, said they were the first at the scene.

Mr Griffiths said: "I had fallen asleep and the dog woke me up barking. I got up and knocked my son up and we went to the door and saw all the smoke coming out of the window, and a bloke in the garden shouting for help.

"The bloke was saying his wife and one of the kids were still in the house.

"I got his wife to come to the window. She said it was getting hot in the bed-room. I told her to hold her son out of the window by his hands and me and my son grabbed him by his legs.

"I told the woman to get her head and shoulders out of the window and try to drop down from the window ledge but she couldn’t get out and she fell on to rubble under the window. Then the fire brigade came."

Stephen Fealy, fire investigation officer and assistant district manager for community safety for Kirklees, said: "We committed six firefighters wear-ing breathing apparatus however the family had all escaped because the fire alarm had actuated alerting them to the fire and one occupant self-rescued from the ground floor.

"These five people are still alive this morning because they were alerted by the smoke alarms. If they didn’t have fire alarms it’s likely there would have been five fatalities. I have 22 years service and I can tell you they were very lucky to get out.

"I would encourage people who don’t have smoke alarms to contact the fire service for a free home fire safety check on 0800 587 4536."

He added: "I’ve been very pleased by the response from the neighbours. They rallied round and assisted with the rescue and have supported the family in their time of need."