A YOUNG family could have been killed in an arson attack on a house in Horrabridge this week.
Firelighters were propped up against the front door of Fitzsimmons' butchers shop in Station Road and set alight about midnight on Monday. Robert Fitzsimmons and his family, including two young children were asleep upstairs.
He said: 'The front door bell was ringing frantically about 12.30. A young bloke was there, he said he'd kicked a block of firelighters away from the door. I went to get some water to put them out, but he'd gone by the time I got back.
'The door was quite badly burned and the glass had cracked. It was horrific, I had a wife and two young girls upstairs. It's very frightening.'
Detectives are keen to talk to the man, who they stressed is not a suspect, and anyone else who might have information.
Sgt Paul Hunter said: 'There were children asleep upstairs, it could have been very nasty.'
Contact DC Graham McCormick at Tavistock police station if you have any information.
l A fire at Cotts, near Weir Quay, was caught 'in the nick of time' before it spread into neighbouring properties, according to sub-officer Colin Shaw.
Sub-officer Shaw, of Bere Alston fire brigade, said the fire on Monday afternoon at one of the row of cottages at Cotts was thought to have been started by an unattended candle.
Bere Alston fire appliance and two from Tavistock attended. Mr Shaw said they caught the fire in the nick of time, as it was in danger of spreading to the neighbouring property. The bedroom was severely damaged and the first and ground floors were also damaged by heat and smoke. Slates were removed from the roof to allow access after the fire spread to the roof space.
The owner's 18 year-old son, who was downstairs at the time, was treated at the scene for heat and smoke inhalation.
l Two police cars were sprayed with paint outside Tavistock police station overnight July 7/8. Anyone with any information should contact the station or the confidential Crimestopper's number 0800 555111.