A Dover family has been left devastated after their garden was destroyed by an arson attack.

Paul Taylor and Phillippa Waller, of Clarendon Street, had to evacuate their children from the house in the middle of the night as flames engulfed a shed and storage unit containing bikes, scooters and a swing set.

The children’s toys and bikes were completely destroyed in the blaze, along with a plastic storage unit and a padlock.

The family were alerted to the fire on Saturday by neighbours, and they stayed at a nearby house until the smoke had cleared.

Mr Taylor, 40, said: “The kids were terrified. At the moment they aren’t sleeping in their room. We are all sleeping downstairs together. The little one, Olle, is scared. I keep trying to assure him that no one will come back and get into the house.

“It has been quite an ordeal. Every time I look in the garden all I see is that morning when I opened the curtains and saw a raging inferno.”

It happened around 2.50am on Saturday June 6. Police confirmed it was being treated as deliberate and they were looking for people to come forward with information.

Kent Fire and Rescue said they received six calls alerting them to the incident at around 3.07am.

The blaze was put out by two appliances within 20 minutes of being their being called out at 3.31am.

Altogether the fire cost the family around £200, but Mr Taylor said money was not the issue.

His children, Sophie, nine, Peter, eight, and Olle, six, were devastated at losing their toys.

He said: “I’m more angry by the fact that it was the kids’ stuff that has been destroyed. I’d rather it would have been mine.”

On Tuesday Mr Taylor expressed his gratitude after neighbours donated three scooters and three bikes to the children.

He said: “It means so much to me and Phillipa, and the kids are so happy. It’s great to know there are so many nice generous people in the community.”

He also thanked his neighbours, who he said had been “brilliant and supportive”.

'I can’t understand why someone would do something like that.' - Paul Taylor

The investigation into the arson attack is ongoing. Officers told Mr Taylor it was clear the fire was deliberate because it was started in two places, near the gate and the corner of the garden on the opposite side.

Mr Taylor said: “I can’t understand why someone would do something like that.”

A police spokesman said: “Police have carried out house-to-house inquiries and would like to hear from anyone who thinks they might know who is responsible.”

If you have any information, phone the police on 101, quoting crime number ZY/16931/15.

Or, if you would prefer to remain anonymous, call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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