A MOTHER has heaped praise on a neighbour that alerted her family to the flat fire in Cwmbran which claimed the life of Samantha Thomas.

Vicki Bevan, 28, and her family were living in the first floor flat next to where the fire took place on Shakespeare Road in St Dials on Tuesday morning. Miss Thomas, aged 29, died in the fire. A 49-year-old man is in police custody on suspicion of murder.

Miss Bevan and her partner Ben Williams, 31, along with their two children Cameron, nine, and Taylor, six, were fast asleep when the blaze broke out at around 6.38am.

She said her quick thinking neighbour Bobby Jones, 20, had saved their lives.

"We were all asleep when my neighbour banged on the door and woke my partner up," she said. "We pulled the kids out of bed and got outside.

"My partner was in his boxers so he went back inside for some clothes and the rooms were already filling up with smoke."

She added: "I am so very thankful - I'm so glad they woke us up."

Miss Bevan said there were flames everywhere at the flat next door.

"It was bad, there were flames coming out of the windows. I heard the windows smash," she added.

"I could hear the popping outside - there were loud bangs - it was horrible."

Neighbours provided coats and hoodies for the family who were in their pyjamas. They also made the family tea and the children some breakfast.

Miss Bevan said: "Everyone is lovely around here. I've found the neighbour who knocked on our door on Facebook, to thank her.

"When I get back up there I plan to take her some flowers. She told me she was glad to save someone's life as they all tried to save Sam's."

Ms Jones, 20, and her boyfriend David Leedham, 20, both knocked on doors to get people out of the flats, after being alerted herself by her mum, Anita Lamb, 60.

Miss Bevan said the last time she saw Miss Thomas was on Monday, the day before her death.

She said: "I was just starting to get to know her. She was always laughing about and a bubbly person.

"She always spoke to my kids."

The family were evacuated due to the damage and are now living in temporary accommodation in Northville, Cwmbran. The mother-of-two said she doesn't know when she will be allowed back into her home.

The flat was full of smoke and firefighters are concerned with potential asbestos from next door’s roof, she added.

The three flats of four which were evacuated belong to Bron Afon housing association, who have re-homed the tenants.