Lucky Escape

POLICE are treating a fire at a Rustington mobile home on Friday night as suspicious after a forensic team found part of a petrol canister at the scene.

Pamela and Anthony Bastable woke to see flames ripping through the roof and guttering of their home in Dinsdale Fields, after being alerted by their bulldog Lucky at 12.30am.

Semi-retired Anthony, 55, managed to douse the flames with a water hose while Pamela dialled 999.

It was a very frightening experience, said 51-year-old Pamela, who was so badly shaken she has had to sleep at her daughter s house since the incident.

She added: If it hadn t been for Lucky s barking, we might not have survived. She saved our lives.

Asthmatic Pamela needed oxygen after breathing in toxic fumes and the roof and guttering of their home were damaged by the fire.

Fire crews from East Preston requested an ambulance immediately to treat Pamela. She was full of praise for the way they dealt with the fire. The emergency services reacted very quickly and I would like to thank them all very much.

For the full story, see the Gazette, September 27.