Family escape in blazing van horror

Phil Webb's peaceful Maltby retreat has been under attack from drug addicts, rogue bikers and intruders - and his two daughters were nearly killed in the latest attack when a burning van was sent careering towards their garden.

The Ford Escort vehicle was pushed from Maltby Craggs, at the rear of Phil's property, down a steep 100ft gorse-filled embankment. It was stopped from ploughing into the garden by a tree.

Giorgia, aged 13, and Louis, 10, were playing with their two Great Dane dogs just feet away and ran inside to call for help.

The incident mirrored a similar near-disaster months earlier, when another car was pushed down the hill from the Craggs towards their home near Blyth Road.

On that occasion the car was left dangling over the edge of the steep garden which rises above the roof of the house - just inches from tumbling into the family home.

Today Phil, aged 42, urged Rotherham Council to block the Craggs off with boulders or metal crash-barriers.

He is also calling for restricted access to the secluded lane he lives on, Wood Lea, to deter anti-social drivers, would-be burglars and drug addicts.

Phil, a blacksmith who is the middle of renovating the family's detached country cottage, said: "I am reaching boiling point now.

"We get all the rubbish down here. There's drug addicts, anti-social drivers and people having a look at the property to try to break-in. We're sick of picking syringes up outside.

"I have chased a few people off the property. They were lucky because the dogs are pretty tasty and wouldn't have been so lenient with them.

"The house is also alarmed all over the place, but it doesn't make your family feel very secure when all this is going on.

"Then on top of all these other problems we get probably the most dangerous problem we face - the cars coming over the top.

"It's terrifying to think what could happen and they have been so close to coming over the top and onto our home and family. My kids had a lucky escape this week.

"The council have placed a few boulders at the top to stop vehicles coming over at one spot and I can't see any reason why this can't be repeated nearby.

"If nothing is done, someone will be killed if this keeps happening - and it's my family in the firing line."

Rotherham Council today said they were talking to police and Safer Neighbourhood Teams about the situation - but said part of the problem was that some of the Craggs was common land.

A spokeswoman said: "We are obviously greatly concerned by what has happened and are looking into it. We will liaise with the other agencies and see what can be done."

Maltby fire officers are so concerned about the situation they are to raise the matter at the next local police and Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting.

The incident on Monday at about 2.45pm was tackled by firefighters and the van fire was quickly extinguished before it could spread to the trees.

Information to South Yorkshire Police on 0114 2202020.