RESIDENTS of a Worcestershire village are living in fear of a firebug who has struck five times in the past month.
In the latest attack a pensioner had a lucky escape after his flat was torched at about 10.55pm on Friday.
Sixty-eight-year-old Roy Minton, of Styles Court, Sandys Road, Ombersley climbed through the bedroom window of his ground-floor flat to escape.
It comes less than a week after arsonists set two cars ablaze on the same road within minutes of each other.
Two weeks ago arsonists also set light to a house in Sandys Road, which spread to an adjoining home. An Ombersley pensioner's shed was also burned at the end of last month.
Now Mr Minton's family, who live on the same road, say they are scared to go to sleep.
"It was really shocking because we've lived around here all our lives. I have never known anything like this," said daughter Sandra Baldwin, aged 38, who also lives in Sandys Road.
"We went to bed that night, but couldn't get to sleep because every little sound is like 'what's that?'.
"We used to be able to leave our doors open around here and not worry. But now I'm frightened to go to bed.
"If I found out who did it, I'd kill them".
After escaping form the blaze, Roy Minton, who was treated for smoke inhalation, rushed to his daughter's home. She alerted firefighters.
"I was just going to bed and could smell something," he said.
"I opened my bedroom door but couldn't see because of the smoke. I said a few swear words and was quite angry about it but kept calm."
Mrs Baldwin put out the fire using buckets of water, with brave nephew Martin Minton, aged 40, who lives in one of the flats above. Severe damage was caused to the front door and the hallway was also smoke-logged.
"I could smell a terrible smell of smoke and I thought it was in my flat," said Martin Minton.
"It was panic stations - I didn't know what to do."
Firefighters extinguished another blaze in a communal bin area at the property. Police are investigating.
"We're treating it as arson and are appealing for information on this fire and any of the recent fires in Ombersley," said Worcester Police spokesman Richard Bull.
"It's being linked with several other fires in the immediate vicinity in recent weeks and is of concern to us."
Anyone with information can contact police on 08457 444888, quoting reference 0596/S/211103.
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