A FAMILY was forced to flee an upstairs flat after a home-made incendiary device was pushed through the letter box of the property below.

David Reid was jailed for two years after admitted posting an ignited brandy bottle following a drunken row with the tenant downstairs.

Durham Crown Court heard that although the intended victim had not returned home, a family of four, including three children, was in the flat above.

Tom Moran, prosecuting, said one of the children raised the alarm when smoke sifted through the floorboards and door. They were able to safely evacuate the former fish and chip shop in Sacriston, County Durham.

But the family was so shaken by the incident that they refused to return to the rented property.

Mr Moran said the tenant from the downstairs flat was at a pizza shop and was alerted by a neighbour that his front door was alight.

He dashed back to the property and put out the fire, just as Reid pulled up in a car to see what damage was caused.

An altercation developed, but police arrived on the scene and arrested Reid.

He gave a positive blood-alcohol test, almost three times the limit for driving, but claimed he had little recollection of the incident.

Alex Burns, mitigating, said Reid had drunk between ten and 16 pints of lager that night and genuinely had little recollection of the incident.

Reid, 29, of Dene Court, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and driving with excess alcohol.