Arsonist strikes twice at party house

10:47am Tuesday 2nd January 2007

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AN arsonist set fire to a family's home twice in one night.

The attacker first struck as Rob and Gill Jefferies were hosting a New Year's Eve party for neighbours, friends and family at their home in Hazel Grove, Radcliffe.

The arsonist set fire to Mr and Mrs Jefferies' bedroom.

The couple, their family and guests evacuated the house and the fire service dealt with the blaze.

Despite the upstairs of the house being badly damaged, the couple, who have five children, decided to carry on the party at their next door neighbour's home.

However, just three hours after the first blaze, Mrs Jefferies spotted smoke coming from an upstairs window when she called home to fetch something for the party.

Again the fire service was called, but the upstairs of the house was destroyed and the rest of the house badly smoke damaged.

Mr Jefferies, a 40-year-old civil engineer, said: "Almost all of our Christmas presents have gone up in smoke as have the majority of our clothes.

"My daughter, Kayleigh, literally has left what she is standing up in. Everything else has been destroyed."

The first fire was started at 7.15pm. The couple's two sons, Ryan, aged 11, and Reece, aged nine, who were playing upstairs, smelled smoke and hurried downstairs to raise the alarm.

Everyone left the house safely and after the fire had been put out Mr and Mrs Jefferies decided to continue the party at the home of the Heely family next door.

The second blaze was spotted when Mrs Jefferies, aged 36, called home to collect something for the party.

She said: "I had just nipped back to get something when I saw the flames and smoke. I just ran out screaming. I couldn't believe it. It's a terrible start to 2007 to say the least."

Police were called after firefighters put out the second blaze.

Mr and Mrs Jefferies, together with Ryan, Reece, Kayleigh, aged 13, and youngest daughter Khloe, aged seven, have temporarily moved in with their eldest daughter, Kirsty, aged 20.

Mr Jefferies said: "The neighbours have been great. We're like a family and always look out for each other, but they have really helped us out and have done all they can.

"I can't praise the fire brigade and the police enough either."

A fire service spokesman said: "We were called to the house twice for what were very serious incidents."

Insurance inspectors are now assessing the damage.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.