A RETIRED couple have described how their holiday in Cornwall almost cost them their lives when a fire tore through their hotel.

Sam and Irene Moore, of Windsor Avenue, Church, were staying in the Penhallow Hotel, New Quay, when a blaze ripped through the building on Friday night.

Three people were killed.

One man died when he jumped through a window on the second floor, close to where the couple were staying.

Irene, 63, said Sam, 70, had been part of a group of holiday makers from Lancashire who travelled with Great Harwood-based tour operators Robinsons Holidays.

It was their second trip to Cornwall - their first was 45 years ago.

Irene said Sam woke when he heard the smoke alarm sound at 12.12am and thought it was lads messing around' Sam woke his wife and they joined a group who were led out of the building.

Irene said: "There were people screaming, panicking and others just like us who stayed calm.

"We just wanted to get out.

"It was dreadful.

"The building went up in a matter of minutes.

"We were lucky. I have never experienced anything like it and wouldn't want to again."

Sam and irene left arrived in Cornwall on August 11 and were due to come home on Saturday, the day the blaze broke out.

Irene said: "We chose the Penhallow Hotel because had a trip to the Eden project.

"My husband wanted to go but the drive was too far.

"The hotel had arranged a tour there, it was a lovely day.

"I was asleep and my husband heard the fire alarm and woke up.

"Then he woke me up.

"First we thought it was a hoax, perhaps some lads had been messing about.

"My husband got up and said he could smell smoke.

"I quickly pulled on my jogging bottoms and a T-shirt.

"We just thought we had to get out as quickly as possible.

"There was a lot of black smoke and flames.

"We joined other people who were evacuating.

"The night porter unlocked one of the doors and we left the building through a back exit.

"It brings home how important smoke alarms, you just don't know when you might need them.

"The people who helped us when we were out of the building were marvellous, they gave us food, nurses were there and the neighbouring hotels took people in."