'My neighbour rang me to say my house was on fire'

A mum has been left devastated after suffering two house fires just over two years apart.

Kayley Hill, 27, says she spent hundreds of pounds redecorating her Cheltenham home following fire damage in February 2022.

Then on 16 April, another fire broke out in her kitchen. No one was injured, but the family have been forced to move in with her grandfather while repairs are being carried out.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service says it is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Ms Hill, who has three children aged 11, eight and six, was shopping when her neighbour rang to see if she was safe.

"They told me my house was on fire," she said. "It's been hard to process it happening again.

"It's very stressful. I don't have the money to redecorate again.

"My eldest child is too scared to return. After the first fire, he kept checking all the plugs to make sure they were turned off.

"We're all scared it's going to happen again."

An investigation by the fire service concluded the first blaze was caused by an electrical tin opener.

A spokesman for the fire service said the second blaze was extinguished within half an hour, and crews rescued one dog.

He said: "Two fire engines, one from Cheltenham East and another from Cheltenham West, were sent to the property where there was a fire in the kitchen

"Crews used one hose reel and two sets of breathing apparatus to put it out. The fire caused 40 per cent damage to the kitchen and some smoke damage."

A fundraiser has now been launched to help Ms Hill repair the damage from the latest fire.

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