A family has been left with little more than the clothes they stand up in after a fire ripped through their home.
Burnt out - Ron Covington surveys the smoke and fire damage Picture: STEVE ARGENT
The Covington family had all left for work by the time fire crews were called to their house in Steele Close, Marks Tey, at just after 11.30am on Friday.
The entire upstairs of the house, including the roof, was left badly damaged and smoke-logged by the fire, which is believed to have started with an electrical fault in the airing cupboard.
Ron Covington, 55, said: "I was at work in Coventry when my wife phoned to let me know the house was on fire.
"They say it started in the airing cupboard and spread throughout the entire top floor."
The alarm was raised by a neighbour who saw smoke billowing out from under the guttering.
Mr Covington added: "All our clothes are ruined. We just have what we are standing up in."
Published Monday January 5, 2004
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