A son tried for aggravated arson after allegedly torching his father's van outside his the family's home was cleared of all charges yesterday.

Andrew Hoskins, 27, stood accused of setting fire to the Ford transit van and was also said to have threatened to kill his dad Gordon at their home in St Luke's Road, Tredegar.

Mr Hoskins was also accused of waving a knife at his father following a family row and was also said to have cut the roofer vehicle's brake pipes, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

But a jury unanimously cleared him of arson with intent to endanger life and committing an arson recklessly after the Crown failed to provide eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence proving the case.

Speaking after the trial, Mr Hoskins' barrister Timothy Evans said there had been a "campaign of vandalism" against the family.

His client walked free from court after staying five months on remand.

Mr Evans told the Argus: "I'm very pleased for him. He is overjoyed."

The jury of six men and six women took just one hour to reach their not guilty verdict.

Summing up, Judge Neil Bidder said an axe and trainers found in a neighbour's garden after the December 2 blaze suggested someone else may have been responsible for the arson attack.

He said: "This raises at least suspicions there may have been somebody else responsible for this."

Taking the stand, Mr Hoskins denied setting fire the van and telling police he had tampered with the brakes of his father's van.

He also denied threatening to kill his dad with a knife following a "family argument".

He told the jury: "My father is my best friend."