A FAMILY who were trapped in a burning house when a youth pushed a firework through their letterbox have spoken of their devastation after he was spared a prison sentence.

Darlington MP Alan Milburn also pledged to look into the sentence, saying the family has endured enough.

Lyndsey Price, then 22, her children Josh, five, and three-year-old Ebony, and sister Nicola, 12, were all sleeping in the house in Marrick Avenue, Darlington, when the blaze was started last October.

They all escaped unharmed, but damage to the house was estimated at about £4,500.

The youth, 17, admitted arson and was found guilty of recklessly endangering life.

But yesterday, Darlington Youth Court gave him a year-long supervision order, with six months concurrent intensive supervision, which they said could be tougher than a custodial sentence.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also given a five-month night-time curfew, and was ordered to pay the Price family £200.

Mr Milburn said he would investigate the case.

"Misuse of fireworks makes people's lives a misery and it is up to the authorities to show this behaviour will not be tolerated," he said.

"This family has clearly been through an ordeal. They need to know the courts are on their side."

Ms Price's mother, Angela, said the family was absolutely devastated and furious.

"We all thought he was going to get some sort of prison sentence," she said. "If he had, then he would have been paying for his crime.

"Lyndsey has lost an awful lot. She's had to move to another end of town and the kids have changed schools. Our whole lives have changed dramatically - and it's all because of him."

Magistrate Diana Sutcliff made the boy look at photographs of the aftermath of the fire and said he should meet his victims.

Mrs Price welcomed this, adding: "I would like to sit him down in front of me and just ask him why he did this."

The court heard how the boy, then 16, pushed the firework into the house after drinking lager. He said he was forced into doing it by a group of boys, but magistrates refused to accept his claim.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, said the boy initially denied any involvement.

Claire Brinton, in mitigation, said: "This was a moment of madness. He is not a stupid boy, but has made a foolish mistake.