A FATHER spoke of his horror as fire destroyed his home only days after he moved his three children to safety.

Arsonists are suspected of being behind the fire which ripped through the family home in Pemberton Avenue, in the Bridgehill area of Consett, County Durham.

Michael Thompson and his wife moved their children, aged seven months, 18 months and six years, out of the house on Friday because of worries raised when a neighbouring property was firebombed.

The couple had become concerned after their neighbour's home was burnt out by arsonists and had spoken to police about their fears.

But yesterday, the 32-year-old and his 24-year-old wife, Amanda, were in shock after fire destroyed their house.

Mr Thompson praised his neighbours, who used a ladder to help the couple to safety, knocked the front door down and extinguished the fire before the fire brigade arrived shortly after 11pm on Tuesday.

Clasping the family dog, Z, in his burnt-out council home, he said he had re-entered the house to save his beloved pet dog. The animal was found hiding under the duvet on the couple's bed. The family's two budgerigars perished in the fire.

Mr Thompson said: "My wife was asleep, and I was in the bedroom when I heard the smoke alarm. I woke up Amanda and she was screaming and screaming, but she put her dressing gown on.

"I opened the door, but there was just black smoke and I thought I was dying. It felt like I was getting sucked in to a big black hole."

The couple could not open their bedroom window but eventually a neighbour, 19-year-old Clifton Hinds, put a ladder up to the window and helped the pair escape.

Neighbours Sean Sands and Linda Glancy joined others from the street to knock down the door and extinguish the blaze.

The couple, who did not have house insurance, lost about £10,000-worth of property. They were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, for check-ups but were not hurt.

Their children, Chantelle, Simone and Kimberley, were staying with relatives.

A spokesman for the police said it appeared that flammable liquid had been poured through the letter box.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Consett police on (01207) 504204