Fire home owners count the cost

The street has been closed while some homes are demolished

"I'm devastated," were the first words from a home owner on first sight of her house, one of 14 damaged by a fire in the Maindee area of Newport.

Katie Cook, 26, has been living in her newly-decorated house in Marlborough Road only since March.

She, like dozens of others, now waits to be allowed back inside her home to see what can be salvaged.

Nine homes were destroyed and five badly damaged after fire spread from a joinery workshop nearby.

The blaze broke out at about 1445 BST on Tuesday at the Limebright Joinery and took several hours to bring under control.

We didn't think it was going to be that serious at first: we thought they would have it under control Katie Cook, resident

Some 100 people in Marlborough Road and nearby streets were evacuated and spent Tuesday night away from their homes.

"It was awful watching the flames and knowing the house was going to catch," said Ms Cook.

"I've been off work this week because I'm not very well and the next thing the firemen were telling me to get out of the house.

"At first my sister and I sat on the wall and watched it.

"We didn't think it was going to be that serious at first: we thought they would have it under control.

"All I had with me was the clothes I was in and my mobile phone".

Walia and Fatima Dad try to find out what can be saved from their home

But she is one of the lucky ones: she had insurance, unlike several others who have been affected.

Walia Dad and his wife Fatima do not have any insurance on their home of nearly 30 years.

"We have spent lots of money recently doing it up," explained Mr Dad.

"We had a new roof, new windows, new central heating, new sofas.

"Everyone who came to the house would tell us what a beautiful house we had. But now I don't know what is left."

'Real tragedy'

Mrs Dad was at home at the time of the fire with her daughters and grandchildren.

"A policeman came and told us to get out quick, just to go. I've only got the clothes I have on left."

The roof on the Dads' home has been destroyed

As the demolition work starts on the worst damaged homes, people from the street and neighbours from surrounding homes gathered to watch.

Irene Livingstone lives in Harrow Street, a few doors away from the Dad family's home.

"The noise of the fire last night was so loud - like fire crackers going off," she said.

"I was told to get out of my home for the night.

"It's awful, a real tragedy what has happened and so many people haven't got insurance.

"I heard a rumour that one lady who had just paid off her home didn't have insurance and now has nothing. It's just horrendous."

Sonia Bennett, who lives in Eton Road, said she and her neighbours were told to keep windows and doors shut at the height of the blaze.

"I was really scared, I saw the fire and it was just gushing down the lane.

"It is such a terrible, terrible disaster," she added.