by Hayley Robinson

A 94-year-old woman and her son have returned to their home almost four months after it was damaged by fire.

Iris Harvey and Danny, 53, who has Down’s syndrome, were told they couldn’t return to their house in Marsh Rise, Kemsley, after the roof was destroyed by the blaze.

The pair were forced to flee their home on March 15, after a woman walking along the alley next to the property shouted over the fence: ‘Your roof is on fire.’

Mrs Harvey’s carer and neighbour Sue Utton was in the garden at the time.

Fire engines from Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey were called to the blaze at about 1.20pm.

Crews used breathing apparatus to tackle the flames in the roof space.

It’s believed a faulty switch linked to solar panels, which were fitted to the property a week earlier, may have been the cause.

The pensioner and her son moved into a caravan at Bultins, Bognor Regis, while the repairs were carried out.

The roof has now been replaced and every room decorated.

When they returned home on Friday, June 22, they were greeted with ‘welcome home’ banners and balloons plus a table full of food and a cake. The small party was organised, and attended, by Mrs Utton and her family plus neighbours.

Mrs Harvey said: “I don’t know what I’d have done without Sue. She packed everything up and stored it in her spare room while I was at Butlins. Then she put everything back in the house for me.

“It’s lovely to be home and Danny is pleased.

“There’s no solar panels on the roof – I wouldn’t have them again even if they saved me £1,000 a week!

“As much as I like Butlins I like to go there for a holiday and when we were there this time it was for the wrong reasons.”