Guest Raises Alarm

A LIGHT-sleeping house guest alerted the family he was staying with to a potentially lethal house fire in Angmering at 4.30am on Sunday morning. Four people escaped.

Thirteen-year-old Oliver Penn was staying with Mr and Mrs Tester and their son, Paul, also 13, in Palmer Road, when the fire, thought to have been caused by sparks from a charging mobile phone, broke out in Paul s bedroom.

Mrs Tester said: "My husband and I woke up to hear someone banging on the wall.

"I opened Paul s bedroom door and the two boys literally came flying out of there!"

The fire brigade was called and the four hurried downstairs and got out of the house as quickly as they could.

Two crews from East Preston arrived shortly afterwards to tackle the blaze.

East Preston fire station commander Jon Mays said: "It looks like the mobile phone which was being charged caused the fire, although the cause is still being investigated."

The first floor was partially destroyed by fire and completely smoke-damaged and the family are now staying with friends and relatives.

Mrs Tester said: "From now on, I am never charging a mobile phone during the night, and we will have smoke detectors in every room. I never want to have to go through this again."

Her sentiments were echoed by Jon Mays, who said: "This is a timely reminder at Christmas for people to ensure they have fully functioning fire alarms."