A family of seven, including a baby girl, were rescued from their burning home by an off-duty police community support officer in Edmonton.

Sean Murphy, 26, was visiting his mother in Hazelbury Green when he spotted flames licking at the side of a semi-detached home in Briary Lane.

Speaking to the Enfield Independent, he said: “I work irregular shifts so I was up in the early hours. At about 3.20am I was outside in the garden waiting for a bottle to heat up for my baby when I saw the fire over the back wall.

“I called the fire brigade and ran over to the house and started banging on the window.”

Large flames were spreading from a lean-to building at the side of the house, and began burning through the roof and windows.

But PCSO Murphy kept knocking on the kitchen window until eventually the family woke up.

PCSO Murphy, who is training to be a police constable, said: “I could see smoke had already filled the house and flames were creeping inside.

“Then I found out there was a baby in there so I told them to open the window. I got the baby out away from the smoke and fire and then brought the rest of them out through the window.”

Paramedics treated the family for smoke inhalation while firefighters tackled the blaze.

London Fire Brigade said it is investigating the cause of the fire on Saturday, March 1, along with the Met Police.

PCSO Murphy added: “I’m just pleased that I was there to help. If I was another five minutes the fire could have gone into the house and it would have been game over.”