Mindless firebugs set fire to two allotments on Henry Taylor Street just before 11.30pm on Monday
Victims of an arson attack at allotments in Flint say they feared the flames would spread to nearby homes as they rushed to get neighbours out of their houses.
Mindless firebugs set fire to two allotments on Henry Taylor Street just before 11.30pm on Monday.
Today, the “devastated” owners of the plots said it was “lucky” nobody was hurt by the arsonists’ dangerous actions.
Paul Hughes said: “I’ve had the allotment for 10 years and I am just gutted. Devastated is the word.
“I should be in work today as a forklift driver, but I’ve had to take the day off as my head isn’t there.
“I’m waiting for the council to tell me what can be done with the plot but to be honest I’ve had enough.
“This was so close to houses it was lucky nobody was hurt. It could have been much worse.”
Paul Claeys, 53, owner of the second plot, told how he jumped into action to get people out of their homes.
“My stepdaughter alerted us to the fire and, when we saw it up in flames, our first thought was the neighbours,” he said.
“So we went and knocked all the doors to get everyone up and out to the front as we didn’t want anyone, especially kids, trapped upstairs if the fire spread.
“It is just devastating. You try to keep the place nice and someone comes and does this. Why?”
Mr Claeys, who works for Tiger Tim making firelighters, said the ordeal left him and wife Sharon unable to sleep.
He said: “It’s been seven years of work on the allotment and the whole lot has just gone.
“All my tools are now lost – many of which I collected over the years which cannot be replaced.
“My wife Sharon has been crying her eyes out this morning.
“Me and my wife, who is a carer, should have been at work today, but we’ve had to take the day off as we couldn’t sleep last night.”
Mr Claeys spoke of his concerns about gangs congregating near the allotments late at night and is calling for the alleyway to be closed to the public.
“There are always groups congregating in the alleyway standing around drinking,” he said.
“But we’re too scared to come out and speak to them as you don’t know what they’ll do.
“You shouldn’t be able to come down here. It’s an area for the residents to put the bins out. It needs to be blocked off at both ends to the public to stop this.”
Neighbours have been left “shocked” by the arson attack.
Ms Sutton said: “I’m just shocked that somebody could do this, even more so because it’s so close to our houses.
“If the wind was blowing in a different direction, our houses could have gone up too. I’m just glad nobody was hurt.”
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they are treating the fire as deliberate.
North Wales Police were also carrying out door-to-door enquiries this morning and are appealing for information.
Anyone with information is urged to phone police on 101.
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