Arson attack on Bristol family

A Bristol family has had a car and a caravan destroyed and their holiday ruined by a mystery arsonist.

The Frys were tucked up in bed when someone set fire to the red Vauxhall Vivaro van outside their house in Blaize Walk, Sea Mills.

The flames spread to a caravan they had borrowed from a friend, which quickly spread to the garage and the ground floor of the three-bedroom council house.

Tallon Fry, 15, was woken by a bang at about 10.55pm on Tuesday night and looked outside to see the van on fire. He alerted his parents and all of the family ran out of the front door, past the fire.

Mum Kerry, 36, said: "The fire brigade said if it had happened later on and the smoke had got upstairs to the bedrooms we could have died or been seriously injured – we wouldn't have even known.

"We have had threats from a person in the past and we've told the police about that. But we've never had a fire attack.

"We've been on the council's priority list for a while, hoping to move, because of it.

"The van and the caravan are completely destroyed. Most of Tallon's clothes were in the caravan as well."

Dad Simon, 43, and Tallon tried their best to get valuables out of the caravan and both suffered burnt hands. The family were looking forward to going to Coventry yesterday to visit friends, but the van and caravan were completely destroyed and the downstairs of the house badly smoke-damaged.

When 18-year-old Natasha saw the family Boxer dog Ali was still in the house she ran to its rescue.

Natasha, who lost graphic design equipment in the fire, said: "I saw my parents trying to get possessions from the van and then I saw the dog in the doorway.

"I legged it inside, grabbed the cat and the dog, ran upstairs to the bedroom and shut the windows and doors. I wanted to get as far away from where the fire was as possible.

"I didn't think; I just wanted to save my dog. I've had him for eight years since he was a puppy and he's part of our family. We've had the cat Chloe for 14 years too."

Avon Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene in minutes, escorted Natasha out of the house and put out the blaze.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The Fry family are offering a £1,000 reward for information.