House fire blazed in Noot Alley in Bowthorpe near Norwich

Chelsea Robinson, 34, had lived in the property in Noot Alley with her three children for more than a decade.

But on Tuesday evening she watched as it was destroyed in a blaze after a large lithium battery exploded in her bedroom.

Fire could be seen blazing out of the bedroom window (Image: Contributed)

The battery was being charged for a small boat her son used when fishing, but the mum noticed it had started to swell and smoke.

It then exploded. 

Chelsea managed to get out of the house with the family’s two pet dogs and their guinea pig was later rescued by fire crews.

Luckily none of her children were at home at the time.

Natasha Williams saw the whole fire unfold (Image: Newsquest)

Her cousin and neighbour, Natasha Williams, 35, witnessed the fire.

She said: "I could hear someone shouting while we were having tea.

"My boyfriend looked out of the window and could see that the house was on fire.

"You could hear things popping and banging - it sounded like gunshots.

"Chelsea was stood outside and freaking out as she watched her life go up in flames."

Fire crews battled the blaze for several hours but the fire destroyed most of the upstairs and roof of the house, with the downstairs suffering significant water damage.

The house was significantly damaged in the blaze (Image: Newsquest)

Natasha added: “You don't think it is going to happen to you.

"The ceiling has fallen through into two of the bedrooms and she has lost thousands of pounds of her belongings.

"It's the sentimental items that hurt the most - the attic was full of her kid's baby books. She's never going to get that back.

The bedroom ceilings have fallen in due to the fire (Image: Newsquest)

"Her youngest turns seven on September 3. All her presents have been destroyed.

"It is going to take months to salvage the home."

Natasha has set up a GoFundMe page to try to raise some money for Chelsea and her family, who didn't have home insurance.

Remnants of tape remain wrapped around the home (Image: Newsquest)

In just a few hours, the page has raised nearly £500 - but has a long way to go to cover just a fraction of what the family has lost.

Chelsea and her children are temporarily staying with her mum who lives nearby.

Natasha said: "We are a close-knit family, and we are going to support her through this."

"Whether she uses the money now as an emergency fund or in the future as she rebuilds her life, it will help."