Fire killed eight cats as it ripped through a York house today.

Firefighters managed to save a terrier dog from the burning house in Bede Avenue, Clifton, nursing it back to life with oxygen therapy.

Neighbours said the owner of the house, who works for the RSPCA Animal Home in Landing Lane, adored animals and would be "devastated" by the shocking death of her beloved pets.

One neighbour, who preferred not to be named, said: "She lived for her animals - she idolised them. All of us feel quite sickened by this."

The blaze started shortly before 8am. Neighbours described hearing loud bangs and breaking glass as flames poured from the stricken house.

Some of them were frantically trying to get into the house to save the animals they knew were inside.

One woman said "It looked like a very large bonfire. I shouted at my partner to phone 999.

The whole house was completely black."

When three fire crews arrived on the scene they found the dead cats and the unconscious terrier inside the house.

Station officer, Richard Riley, said: "The fire, which started on the ground-floor front room of the house, had left the room badly burnt. The rest of the house had suffered from severe heat and smoke damage."

Firefighters were investigating the cause of the fire today.

The dog which had regained consciousness was being treated by an emergency vet.

The householder had not been informed of the incident at the time of going to press.

Updated: 14:15 Tuesday, March 08, 2005