Family flee caravan fire

A family fled their caravan as it went up in flames in a Shropshire lay-by.

Firefighters were called to tackle the blaze just after 6.20pm yesterday.

Crews from Whitchurch and Prees arrived on the scene, in Alkington Lane, near Lower Tilstock Park, to find a man and a boy had escaped from the caravan without injury.

They are thought to have been living in the lay-by for about four months.

A number of gas cylinders were caught up in the blaze and had to be quickly removed by firefighters and cooled.

The caravan was destroyed in the blaze.

An incident commander from Shrewsbury was called to the scene where firefighters remained until nearly 9pm.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze, and will then be advising the police as to whether a further investigation needs to be launched.

Sub-officer Mike Beach, from Whitchurch Fire Station, said: “There was no-one hurt in the fire, but it completely destroyed the caravan.

“There was a man and his son, and I think they had been living in the lay-by for about four months.

“There were a couple of gas cylinders there which we had to cool down as they were a danger.”

West Mercia Police spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk today said officers were waiting to hear from the fire investigators before deciding what action, if any, to take.

She said: “We had a report of a caravan being on fire near Lower Tilstock Farm on Alkington Road at 6.50pm yesterday.

“We will be liaising with the fire service to establish whether the fire was of doubtful origin.”