A COUNTRY cottage was severely damaged by fire early today, March 4, leaving a family of five devastated.

Fire broke out at the home of Steve and Sian Langton and their three children in Leavening, south of Malton, at about 8.50am, destroying the roof and damaging the first floor.

No-one was injured in the blaze, which is believed to have started in the attic. Crews from Malton and York attended the scene. The cause is still being investigated.