A family were left terrified after youths threw a firebomb at their home.

Grandmother Eileen Hoy was with granddaughter Charmaine, six, at her home in Abdy Avenue, Dovercourt, when the arsonists struck.

Mrs Hoy was sitting reading when there was an "almighty thud" against her front window.

She said: "I looked out and saw this boy running away. There were flames 20 feet high outside."

Mrs Hoy said she saw another youth who had thrown the burning bottle or jar of paraffin. She recovered the top of the bottle which had a wick in it.

The flames burnt themselves out quite quickly but at one point were all along the garden path.

Mrs Hoy's husband, Raymond, arrived home just as police got to the house.

She said: "He couldn't believe it when I said we'd had been attacked."

Mrs Hoy, 53, said Charmaine was "absolutely petrified". She said: "When the police came she just sat sobbing. She was too scared to go to bed alone."

Mrs Hoy said she also lay awake last night wondering why the attack had happened. "I have lived here for 16 years and nothing like this has ever happened to me before.

"I keep thinking if it had been petrol we would have all gone up in smoke. I can't bear to think about it."

Mrs Hoy added there were a number of people in the road with small children and she feared a similar incident.

Insp Peter Hudson of Harwich police today confirmed they were investigating Monday night's attack and appealed for witnesses.

Anyone with information can contact Harwich police on 01255 241312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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