A family were forced to flee their flat in terror after a suspected arson attack.

Michelle Tudor, 37, and her three children were woken in the early hours of Tuesday morning when their back door suddenly shattered.

But worse was to follow when the smell of smoke alerted the family to the fire raging downstairs.

Ms Tudor, twins Holly and Dylan, 6 and Kayley, 16, had to escape through their front door, which was in flames.

Ms Tudor said: "We were terrified. We had to rip the curtains down and put them over the kids' heads so they wouldn't breathe in the smoke.”

Three fire engines, two ambulances and several police cars rushed to the flat in Town Lane, Stanwell.

Six-year-old Dylan was so frightened by the experience he had a panic attack.

Ms Tudor's nephew, Nik Slate, 22, who was staying with the family collapsed from smoke inhalation.

The flat below Ms Tudor's was empty, as the downstairs family were away for the Easter weekend.

Mr Slate said: “The fire brigade were saying if anybody was in there they would have died. The whole place is smoke damaged.”

A spokesman for Surrey Police said the incident was still being investigated and treated as suspicious. They are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information.

Ms Tudor said she was scared about the flats being targeted again.

"My nephew is still staying with me, because I am too scared to stay here on my own. We took it in turns to sleep last night. My little boy was too scared to sleep by himself last night. He slept in his sister's bed," Ms Tudor said.

“All I'm trying to do is protect my family," she added.

Any witness should call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference SL/09/2949 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.