A FATHER'S Christmas holiday was ruined after fire tore through his home on Christmas Day. John Lambert, 57, of Pinnock Lane, Staplehurst, near Maidstone, was spending the day with friends in London when he received a telephone call telling him there had been a fire at his home.

Neighbours opposite Mr Lambhert's semi-detached home had seen smoke pouring from the upstairs window at about 3.15pm and immediately called the fire brigade. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Mr Lambert, who is working on the Channel Tunnel rail link, lives in the house with his daughter Samantha, 20, who works with disabled people in Staplehurst. His wife, Eileen died about 16 years ago.

Mr Lambert's son, Martin, 21, who lives in Ireland and had arrived at Mr Lambert's home last Saturday, was in the house at the time of the fire. He was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but was otherwise uninjured.

His father said he had been looking forward to a relaxing Christmas with his friends until he received the news. "I got a phone call from neighbours telling me my house was burnt. It has been a very poor Christmas," he added."

Mr Lambert, who is now staying with friends, said that since the blaze he had neither seen nor heard from his son. He has also been unable to face returning to Staplehurst to see the damage to his home. "I have heard the place is in a mess," he stressed. "My home is ruined, my son has vanished and I haven't got a clue where he is".

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.