Fire caused smoke and heat damage to a family-run shop in Clacton after someone apparently tried to set light to the bottom of the entrance door.
The blaze at the Happy Shopper store on the corner of Eastcliff Avenue and Holland Road started at 9.45pm on Saturday.
John Woods, one of the owners who lives above the shop, said: "The alarm went off and we came down and saw the fire."
He said the flames were quite high and reached to the top of the door. But Mr Woods said he and his parents, John and Joyce Woods, were able to get out another way.
Two fire engines from Clacton and Weeley attended the blaze. A spokesman for Clacton Fire Brigade said it looked like someone had tried to set light to the bottom of the entrance door.
He added it was lucky the fire had not spread to the main shop.
Published Tuesday October 22, 2002
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