A couple had a lucky escape after a rocket firework smashed into their home and started in fire in an upstairs bedroom.

The incident happened in Worle, in Weston-super-Mare, on Bonfire night and it is believed the rocket may have been set of deliberately by a gang of youths seen running away.

Police are still investigating the fire, which has completely destroyed 15-year-old Jo Sawtell’s bedroom along with the contents of the whole of upstairs.

Mum Julie, aged 43, said, if the rocket had struck on any other night Jo would have been in her room and could have been killed.

Fortunately Wednesday night is the only evening the Priory Community School pupil goes out to hockey training.

Julie, a hotel room assistant, said: “We have lived here for 12-years and there has been constant trouble with teenagers causing problems in the area.

“They cause criminal damage to people’s cars and rocks and pellet guns have been fired at buses in the past so the routes have been redirected.

“My son Tom and I were sitting downstairs watching TV when we heard a loud bang, we just assumed it was a firework going off close by.

“But within 30 seconds the upstairs smoke detector went off and we rushed upstairs and could see a fire had started directly under Jo’s window.

“It must have been fired from the lane and a neighbour saw a group of three teenage boys and two teenage girls running away straight afterwards.

“Normally Jo would have been in there, she sits on her bed working but on Wednesday’s she goes to hockey, so it was pure luck November 5 fell on a Wednesday otherwise she could have been injured or killed."

The rocket is still in Jo’s bedroom awaiting examination.

Superintendent Chris Weigold, head of operations from Weston-super-Mare police station said: "As soon as the call came in last night officers were dispatched to Magdalen Way and commenced an investigation.

“The next stage is for the scene to be forensically examined in order to ascertain exactly what happened."

Neighbour Jenny Askin, 54, was out at the time but her son Anthony and her grandsons Harry and Jack were home.

She said: “One of my grandsons saw smoke and though it was a bonfire but at the same time Tom came around and told them all to get out.

“Fortunately no was hurt and there is only slight smoke damage in our roof.”