A GREAT grandmother said she had a lucky escape after waking up as flames engulfed a neighbour’s house after a suspected arson attack.
Margaret Harris, 87, said she was resting at her home in Cripps Avenue, Tredegar, when she sensed danger. The widow went to her front door and saw the street full of onlookers watching the house next door burn.
Mrs Harris told the Argus: “All of a sudden I smelt the smoke. I went out. The street was full of people.
“I thought ‘Oh my God, what is happening?’ and then I saw the flames.”
Her daughter Christine Shaw, 62, said: “It could have been fatal.”
Mrs Harris added: “I sensed something was wrong.
“I was in the street and people gave me tea.
“It could have been worse.”
Around 25 firefighters spent one and a half hours tackling the blaze from 3pm on Monday. It severely damaged the neighbouring house and an adjacent property which was boarded up. Fire investigators were yesterday combing the scene for clues.
Police arrested a 17-year-old and two 18-year-old youths following the blaze.
The youths have been bailed pending further enquiries
