Eleven pets killed in suspected Bognor Regis arson attack

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack in Bognor Regis which has killed 11 pets this week.
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At about 4am on Friday (March 27), 55-year-old Linden Road resident Allison Bashford was woken up by her daughter when a fire started in their next door neighbour's shed which quickly spread to Allison's garden.

A hutch in the garden caught fire, killing at least 11 rabbits and guinea pigs.

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Allison is a team leader at Rose Green Junior School and says she 'loves' animals and has always been passionate about them.

Damage to a wooden structure in the gardenDamage to a wooden structure in the garden
Damage to a wooden structure in the garden

The nature of the incident means Allison has been unable to retrieve the bodies. She said: "I didn't find them, I saw one hutch go up and I tried to put it out. I have to walk past the hutch to get to the other one, it's just horrific.

"I can't live in this because of the fumes. It could have gone a lot worse."

Allison credits her 18-year-old daughter Molly Slater and neighbour Dominic Mizzi with saving her life after they both called the fire brigade upon discovering the fire.

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A spokesman for Sussex Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and said: "Officers were called by the fire service to two sheds on fire at residential properties on Linden Road at 5.25am on Friday, 27 March.

Some of the damage done in the back gardenSome of the damage done in the back garden
Some of the damage done in the back garden

"Two suspects were reportedly seen making off through the cemetery which backing onto the properties shortly after the blaze began about 4am. Eleven rabbits and guinea pigs inside one of the sheds were killed in the fire. The incident is being treated as suspicious.

"Anyone who witnessed anything is asked to report online or call 101, quoting serial 123 of 27/03."