Mum, 37, was at work on Christmas Eve when a call turned her world 'upside down'

A mum was left facing a 'whirlwind' at Christmas after her belongings were destroyed in a house fire. Amy Maxwell, 37, was at work on Christmas Eve when her festive plans were ruined by a devastating blaze which broke out from her kitchen on Milford Drive, in Bury.

Her 14-year-old son, Connor, had been at home with their six-year-old dog Ollie and Amy's mum, Judith. But after Judith nipped out to the shop at lunchtime, her world turned upside down.

"It's just a massive punch in the face," Amy said. "We're starting again I suppose. But my son is alive and my dog is fine, so really that's all that matters."

Amy says the cause of the fire is still unknown. From the kitchen, it spread throughout her home, with her internal doors open at the time.

She says the kitchen is 'written off', while other rooms suffered severe smoke damage. Her furniture and flooring need replacing, with the only items salvaged being clothes kept inside wardrobes.

Amy said: "I got a phone call at work from my mum asking 'am I ok to leave for half an hour'? I said it was fine - but obviously not.

"It was horrific, but it's the fact that Christmas has put everything on hold, with repairs and getting things sorted. It's a housing association house, the emergency team came out to make it safe, but nothing else can be done until January 2. It's limbo time."

A neighbour stepped into the property to get Ollie out and to shout at Connor to come down, with the teenager panicking upstairs as smoke filled the house. Amy said: "[Connor] has seen a few friends over Christmas, we had Christmas dinner somewhere else.

"One minute he's OK, and then he just goes quiet." Paramedics treated the neighbour at the scene after he became injured in the kitchen, having also