A father of four has relived the frightening moment his children alerted him to a blaze on his doorstep.

Joe Patrick, of Hathaway Court, Cheriton Road, Rainham, was getting the youngsters ready for bed when his son asked what was happening outside the front door.

Mr Patrick turned around and saw an orange glow around the door. The 28-year-old said: “I walked up to the door and opened it and there were massive flames as tall as me outside.

“There were seven Amazon boxes left outside and they were on fire. I was desperate to put the fire out in case it spread to the gas mains. The front door was blocked with flames. My fire alarms went off and all my children were crying.

“I felt scared. I panicked and went into the kitchen and filled up a washing bowl and tipped it over the fire several times. I tried to stamp it out but it kept relighting.”

“I felt scared. I panicked and went into the kitchen and filled up a washing bowl and tipped it over the fire several times. I tried to stamp it out but it kept relighting" - Joe Patrick

Mr Patrick, whose children are nine, six, four and two, managed to put out the flames before calling the emergency services. He added: “I have never been so petrified. The children keep saying ‘There’s a fire daddy’ so I have to keep telling them that it’s all gone now.”

Mr Patrick believes the fire was started deliberately and police are treating it as suspicious.

“I’m very angry and very upset,” Mr Patrick said. “Why would someone do that to me knowing I had children in my house? We now want to move home.

"Someone must know something about the fire. If you do, please contact police.”

A police spokesman said: “Police received a report of arson. It was reported that between 6pm and 6.40pm in Cheriton Road, cardboard boxes were set alight.

“Officers have made several inquiries but no suspects have been identified.”