TWO children are recovering from the effects of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in their Herefordshire home.

But the consequences of the leak could have been far more serious – and unthinkable – had they not been awoken by an alarm.

Rose Sales first thought there was a fire in her Burghill home when the warning sounded during the early hours.

But, having realised the piercing noise was not coming from the smoke detector – and with no visible signs of a fire – her attention turned to the Carbon Monoxide alarm.

She called the emergency gas number and was told to open all windows and doors and head immediately to hospital.

And so, still dressed in their pyjamas, she set off with her two young children to the A&E department.

Mrs Sales said the "brilliant doctors" soon came back with truly shocking news.

Her blood results showed that she was close to reaching fatal levels of the deadly gas.

"We all went to bed that night feeling tired and sick," she said.

"But had no idea why."

Unable to return home, Mrs Sales was grateful that their friends Bob and Sue Taylor could put them up for three nights.

An investigation is now under way but Mrs Sales believes a wood burner installed in their home last October was the cause of the leak.

Fortunately, Carbon Monoxide monitors had been installed in the home when the family moved in – and Mrs Sales credits the small plastic box with saving their lives.

She now wants to raise awareness of their importance and how such a cheap piece of kit can prevent a tragedy.

"They don't cost much but you can even get them for free under schemes run by the fire brigade," she added.

"Plus the fire service will come and do free safety checks at your house – it's a great service."

Roman, 8, and his sister Marley, 5, have made steady progress since the leak but the shock from the night has stayed with them.

"They don't really want to sleep in their own beds," added Mrs Sales.

"And Roman keeps saying 'thank you for saving my life' so he understands just how serious it was."