A COUPLE and their pet dog were rescued by a neighbour from their blazing home at Elmley Marshes, Sheppey, on Friday night Barry O'Dowd, warden of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' site at Elmley National Nature Reserve, used a ladder to bring Todd Reid, his partner Pam Fauchon and their border terrier Molly to safety after receiving a phone call from Mr Reid.

Mr Reid, the reserve's manager, and Mrs Fauchon were woken just before midnight in their upstairs back bedroom by the shrill sound a smoke detector ringing on the landing.

Mr Reid, who has lived in the house at Kingshill Farm for 10 years, said: "We tried to get downstairs but the fire was too gar gone by that time."

The couple returned to their bedroom and put material at the bottom of the bedroom door to stop smoke coming in.Mr Reid managed to ring the Kent Fire and Rescue Service via a land line before the line melted and then used his mobile phone to ring Mr O'Dowd whose home is a few hundred yards away at the farm which is two miles from A249 Sheppey Way.

Mr O'Dowd, 46, who was about to go to bed, ran across to a work shed, got a ladder and ran across to Mr Reid's home.

Mr O'Dowd said: "I could see smoke and big flames in the front of the house downstairs, in the kitchen area."

Mr O'Dowd, who has lived at the isolated farm complex for four years, ran around the back and put the the nine-foot ladder again the house wall,below the couple's bedroom window.

The couple managed to pass their dog to Mr O'Dowd, but the ladder was about five feet too short to reach them.

First Mrs Fauchon and then her partner,both wearing dressing gowns,had to slide down to a ledge below the window and then descend the ladder.

About 40 firefighters with six pumps fought the blaze which destroyed the inside of the house and its roof. The cause is being investigated by fire officers.

Later Mr Reid, who also manages the whole Elmley Estate for the owner, Philip Merricks, said: "We are absolutely indebted to Barry. It was marvellous that he was there.

"We are often here on our own. It was very lucky that he was at home."

The couple, who lost most of their possessions in the fire, plan to stay with Mrs Fauchon's mother in Queenborough.

Mr O'Dowd said: "It was shock. It happened so quickly. If it had had happened at the weekend, I would have been away."