FLAMES blocked a front door after arsonists shoved a lit sparkler through a man's letterbox.

Fire alarms woke Neil Bowie as smoke filled the home and flames leapt at the front door of his house in Linchfield Avenue, Ronkswood.

His flat was one of two ground-floor flats targeted by vandals yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

Mr Bowie said he was asleep in his bedroom when he was woken up at about 5pm by a ringing noise.

Worcester News: The damage done to Mr Bowie's property on Linchfield Avenue.The damage done to Mr Bowie's property on Linchfield Avenue. (Image: Neil Bowie)"The fire alarm started going off in the flat, which woke me up, and the flat was full of a plastic burning smell," he said.

"There were flames going up my front door - my home still stinks of plastic this morning.

"They had put a sparkler through my letter box."

Mr Bowie sprung into action and managed to put out the fire which had caused smoke damage to his front door.

However, he said the scenario could have been a lot worse.

"Everyone's safety is at risk here.

"That could have been serious - If I was not here to put it out, the whole flat could have gone up.

"That's arson - it could have killed a lot of people."

Worcester News: The remains of the sparkler.The remains of the sparkler. (Image: Neil Bowie)Mr Bowie has lived in the property since 2009 and said that the worst thing that would happen before yesterday's incident would be a broken window, which he said is common for a ground-floor flat. 

The event has led him to feel "quite shaken".

"I was in more shock - this week has been one thing after another.

"I have been left quite shaken.

"It is disgusting and also so weird that this happened."

According to Mr Bowie, he is still waiting to hear from Platform Housing about repairs to the damage done to the property.

He is currently arranging a meeting with police officers.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We received a call around 5.10pm yesterday evening (March 8) with a report of arson at a property on Litchfield Avenue in Worcester.

"The fire had been extinguished, and the fire service was not required to attend.  

"Officers attempted to make contact with the victim and will continue to do so today."

Worcester News has contacted Platform Housing for a comment.