A woman and her three children were today homeless after a blaze believed to have been started by one of the youngsters.
Firefighters were called to the home in Redgrave Road, Vange, to find the adjoining side garage well alight and the house filled with smoke.
Wrecked - the debris left in the garage after the blaze Picture: ROB BROWNE
The 32-year-old mother, 12-year-old daughter and two sons aged eight and nine are now staying in temporary accommodation until they can be re-homed.
One son admitted setting alight a settee in the garage with a lighter as he played with a friend, a fire officer said.
The two children fled the garage as the flames took hold before alerting the boy's mum who was across the road.
Firefighters contained the fire to the garage and rescued the family's cats.
However, a door leading from the garage to the home was left open, allowing thick, black smoke to fill the house.
Published Thursday, April 24, 2003
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