A FAMILY say they had a narrow escape after petrol was poured through their letterbox and set on fire.

Mother-of-three Deborah Moylon said that her children could have died if the fire had spread, trapping them upstairs at their Ebbw Vale home.

Mrs Moylon, of Attlee Close, Garnlydan, said she was horrified after her home was targeted by an unknown suspect while three of her children were alone in the house.

The incident happened at 9pm on Wednesday night, when Mrs Moylon and her husband were out and her three children, Lauren, 21, Connor, 16, and Rhys, 15, were in the house.

“They were on their own in the house, Lauren and Connor were upstairs and Rhys was downstairs,” said Mrs Moylon.

“Rhys was watching TV and heard the letterbox going and went to see what it was. Then he saw the entire door was on fire. He shouted to Lauren and Connor and they came downstairs and all got buckets of water and managed to put it out.”

Mrs Moylon says that thanks to the quick thinking of her children, the fire was put out, but it could have been much worse if no one had been downstairs at the time of the incident.

She said: “It’s sickening that someone would do something like this. They must have known someone was in the house because we had our Christmas lights up.

“They didn’t care who was in though, they didn’t care if it was children or anyone. Who knows what could have happened if the kids weren’t there?

“Where my front door is its right near the stairs and if the fire would have gotten any further it would have trapped the others upstairs.”

The family say they have no idea who could have targeted the property, or why.

“We haven’t got a clue who it could be,” Mrs Moylon said. “We haven’t upset anyone or know of anyone that could do something like this. It just doesn’t make any sense at all.”

Gwent Police are currently looking into the incident and have been in Garnlydan conducting investigations.

Mrs Moylon has also said her husband is offering £3,000 to anyone who can supply the police with information which leads to a prosecution.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “At approximately 9pm on December 7, petrol was poured through the letterbox of an address and a stick used to ignite it.

“Fortunately due to the quick actions of the occupants, who were home at the time, there was minimal damage caused and no one was injured. A person in dark clothing was seen running away from the area.

“Anyone with information relating to the incident, or anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area that evening is asked to call 101.”