A YOUNG family were saved in an SAS-style night rescue after potentially lethal levels of gas seeped into their home as they slept.

Derick and Tracey Kelly, both 27, and their 19-month-old daughter, Emma, were woken at 1.30am on Tuesday when firefighters broke down the doors of their home in Chester Road, Watford.

The family were oblivious to the high levels of gas that had escaped from their cooker during the night. A spark from a light being switched on could have caused a huge explosion.

The potentially disastrous situation was averted when firefighters from Watford Fire Station and Watford police planned a meticulous operation to alert the sleeping family to the danger.

The Kelly's were woken and evacuated from their terraced house, as were their neighbours, both young couples with small children, and the residents opposite.

British Gas was informed of the leak by a neighbour in Chester Road who smelt gas.

After the ordeal, Mr Kelly said: "We woke up to the sound of smashing glass and initially thought we were being burgled.

"Then we saw two firemen at our bedroom door shouting 'get out, get out' and yelling at us not to turn the lights on.

"We told them where Emma was and one of the firemen carried her out of the house.

"We ran up the road to another house with the two couples who live next door to us and the people opposite.

"It was all very frightening and we have been feeling pretty bad all day. We don't know how the gas leak happened.

"We have replaced the back door, but that is a small price to pay when you consider what could have happened.

"We would really like to thank our neighbours, who notified the Gas Board about the leak, and the firemen, police and ambulance services."

Police arrived to find the house in darkness and no sign of movement and realised entry had to be gained without causing the family to wake up and turn on any lights.

After firefighters, using breathing apparatus, successfully evacuated the occupants they used a fan to blow the gas from the premises.

The Electricity Board was informed and the power to the road and surrounding area was turned off.

Watford Fire Station officer Mr Roger Parker said: "We had to get in very quickly without the family switching the light on because that could have caused a massive explosion.

"Firefighters launched an SAS-style raid breaking down the front and back doors simultaneously.

"Firemen wearing breathing apparatus turned off the gas while another team went upstairs and got them out before they had time to turn any lights on.

"We had to be very quiet when we arrived and make sure everything was in place for the rescue before we went in.

"If they heard us and switched the light on, the amount of gas in the place meant the house could have been totally destroyed."

Next door neighbours Miss Melanie Roche, Mr Robin Wardley, and one-year-old Conor Wardley, were among those evacuated during the night.

Miss Roche said: "My boyfriend was up when the firemen rang the door bell at about 2am and we were all taken to another house up the road.

"It is a good job the Kelly's slept through it all."

A spokesman for Watford police said they were delighted the incident ended without injury.

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