Firebugs sparked the blaze by setting fire to a recycling bag and placing it up against the back uPVC door of the house on York Terrace, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

And when smoke began spilling from the blaze, the homeowners frantically tried to escape the property.

But they were unable to find their keys and were trapped inside the two-storey semi-detached house as firefighters raced to the scene.

As the man battled to contain the fire at 2am on Sunday morning, his panicking partner smashed a downstairs window in a bid to get out of the house.

The woman was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham suffering cuts to her hand and today a cordon was thrown up around the rear of the smoke-hit home as an investigation got under way.

Concerned neighbours spoke of their shock after police confirmed the arson attack was being linked to a second attack just streets away.

A 33-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said: “There were police and fire engines all over the street.

“It woke up everyone on the street and no-one can believe that someone would intentionally try and burn someone’s house down. I saw the couple after and the woman looked really shaken. She had been trying to get out for a while and she must have been terrified.”

Just minutes after the attack, a police officer drive past a home on nearby Jolliffe Street and saw smoke spilling from a garage fire.

The fire had been started in boxes piled up inside the garage and an elderly man, believed to be in his 60s, managed to escape his home.

Following investigations by fire teams and the police, it was discovered both incidents were deliberately started and were linked.

Group manager Keith Wanley today said all those caught up in the arson attacks were lucky to escape with their lives.

He said: “We take arson very seriously.

“We will be working together with the police to catch those responsible for the fires.”

Anyone with information should call 0345 6060365.

THOUSANDS of pounds worth of caravans were seized and a man arrested after organised crime gangs were targeted in a police raid.

A team of 25 officers swooped on the village of Woodstone, Fence Houses, with the aim to break the stolen caravan chain operating in and around Durham.

Police entered two caravan park compounds, targeting people believed to be involved in buying and selling stolen goods, including cars, caravans and motor homes.

A convoy of nine police vehicles drove through the village before reaching Leisure Caravans in Woodstone.

A man was arrested on suspicion of theft and money laundering and two caravans, worth up to £10,000, were taken away for investigation.

The keys of a Mercedes, worth around £70,000, was seized and the car taken away for analysis. Police began searching 600 caravans in storage on the site.

The alleged thief was identified by members of the public.

He was yesterday being questioned on suspicion of stealing caravans and money laundering.

Last night police had successfully searched and recorded the chassis numbers of 300 caravans but still had another 300 to check.
Details of the vehicles were sent to CRIS – a Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme which checks if a caravan has outstanding finance, is written off or stolen.

The raid was organised as part of Operation Tweed, within Operation Sledgehammer, a campaign which aims to crack organised crime groups in and around Durham.

And officers were hoping that the operation yesterday will have increased the public’s confidence in the police and helped to break up the sale of stolen goods.

Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Anderson, of Durham Constabulary, said: “We have got a few organised crime groups in Durham City. They are groups of people who carry out unlawful activity to make money.

“But as a result of community information we were able to organise the operation.

“I can assure members of the public that we act upon all information and that every little bit helps. It may just be the final piece of a jigsaw or open other avenues for us to investigate.

“If people do have any further information then I would urge them to get in touch and we will act upon it.

“The message I want to get out to criminals is that if you carry out unlawful activity, we will target you.”

Leaflets were distributed in nearby areas to inform people about the raid. And now Chief Inspector Colin Williamson is urging the public to report anybody they suspect to be involved in the black market.

He said: “Today is not just about trying to crack down on crime but it about reassuring the public that we do act on the information we receive.

“It’s about making a positive impact on the community.

“We want to tell people after we received information this is what we do about it.

“We also plan to tell the community what we are doing.”

The dad of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has climbed the highest peaks in the country to raise money to help build a memorial wall.

Tom Cuthbertson, whose son Nathan, 19, was killed in a suicide attack in June 2008, tackled Ben Nevis, in Scotland, Scafell Pike, in Cumbria, and Snowdon, in Wales, in 24 hours.

He was joined by 17 members of the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), who battled against blizzards to raise money for five charities, including Brothers in Arms, which aims to build a memorial wall in Sunderland to honour those killed in service.

Mr Cuthbertson, an emergency care support worker for the ambulance service at Ryhope, said: “I’m still in pain now. The weather was horrendous. It was like being in the Arctic. You literally couldn’t see in front of your face.

“All I kept thinking about was Nathan and the good times we had. He would have thought I was as daft as a brush for doing it.”

The group had 24 hours to complete the challenge.

Mr Cuthbertson added: “There was three of us who completed the Three Peaks, but we didn’t get all the way to the top of Scafell Pike as we were told we had to stop as it was too dangerous.

“I collapsed into a heap when I finished.”

Peter Stoddart, operational manager for the NEAS for the South of Tyne and Wear, which includes Sunderland, was a driver for the group.

He said: “It rained from start to finish, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits.

“Everybody gave it 100 per cent. The charities all lie close to the hearts of our members, who did a fantastic job.”

The money will also go to Facing All Cancer Together – after the ambulance service lost paramedic Judith Lightfoot to the disease 18 months ago – as well as the British Kidney Patients’ Association, National Autistic Society and Unison, the public service trade union which supports ambulance workers’ welfare.

A charity night will be held on July 16 at the Dubmire Royal British Legion Club, Fencehouses, where the group will see how much they have raised.

Brian Dodds, an advanced technician based at Pallion ambulance service, said: “Hopefully, we’ll have hit the £5,000, and maybe more.

“But every penny counts. A massive thanks to Was UK, Bells Truck and Van and the NEAS for their kind donations, such as the cars for our transport, and everyone one who supported us.”

Posted by Norman Sweeting