Girl sets fire to family's home

An 11-year-old girl left home alone on bank holiday Monday burned down her house and ruined a neighbour's home.

It is believed she had set fire to paper with a lighter, but had been unable to put out the flames.

The blaze tore through the terraced house in Walter Close, Swindon, and damaged the house next door.

Swindon fire station manager Ian Jeary said the consequences could have been much worse and the fire served as a "stark warning" to all families.

'Little star'

The girl escaped unscathed and another 11-year-old girl who lives nearby raised the alarm with neighbours.

Megan Knowles' mother Flo, 45, said her daughter was a "little star".

She said: "She came running in and told me to phone the fire brigade but, knowing what children can be like, I thought I would check first.

"As I walked out of the front drive, I could see smoke billowing out of the house because the front door was open. I think the little girl must have run out.

"My little girl went round knocking on doors getting people out."

Mr Jeary said the neighbouring family had been re-housed temporarily while their home was being repaired.

"It's just lucky that nobody was hurt because this could have been a real tragedy," he said.

"We would advise parents to keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight and educate their children about the dangers of fires and the consequences that can arise."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6633897.stm