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Man 'sets house on fire to kill spider'

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-29 15:44

A man accidentally set fire to his home while trying to kill a spider with a cigarette lighter, it has emerged.

Firefighters were called when sparks from the lighter went through the gap in the cladding at the man's semi-detached Portsmouth home and set the wall ablaze, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Watch manager Steve Pearce said: "Our concern was that it would reach the roof and the property would be lost.

"We sent firefighters up into the loft to put it out and fortunately we were able to stop it in time."

He added: "Surprisingly there wasn't much damage to the house other than to the cladding. We obviously had a chat with the man but I don't think he'll be doing this again.

"The man was trying to put the fire out with a garden hose when we arrived. The whole thing had clearly scared the life out of him."