A family returned from a weekend break to find that burglars had set fire to their house.
Martyn Standage, 60, was on a break with his wife and daughter when he got a call from a neighbour to say their detached bungalow was ablaze.
The blaze in the early hours of Saturday tore through the home on Inchfield Close in Norden - leaving it a charred shell and nearly all their possessions have been destroyed.
Police and fire services are investigating the blaze but it is believed it was started deliberately by intruders.
Three fire crews were sent to the fire shortly before 3:30am in the early hours of Saturday after it was spotted by neighbours.
International development consultant Martyn, wife Angela, 59, and daughter Natalye-Grace, 24, had been attending an equestrian event in Shropshire.
But they got the call from a friend and raced back to find the house, where they had lived for 27 years, virtually destroyed.
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It is now likely to have to be knocked down and rebuilt and the family are currently living in a motor home on his driveway whilst they wait for insurers to assess the damage and help them find alternative accommodation.
Speaking to the M.E.N., Martyn said the family were mystified why the property was so cruelly targeted.
He said: “We’re all absolutely heartbroken.
“Coming back to see what used to be our house like that was horrible.
“We think everything has gone.
“All we have left is the clothes on our backs and a few things we packed for the trip.
“I just don't understand why anyone would do something like this.
“To burgle someone is bad enough but to then burn the house to the ground just beggars belief.
“It’s so unnecessary but causes so much damage.
“The only silver lining we have is that no-one was inside and no-one was hurt.
“We just hope whoever has done this gets caught and we can rebuild the house and start again.”
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A fire service spokeswoman confirmed evidence of forced entry had been found at the rear of the property and that it’s believed the fire was started deliberately.
She said the scene had been preserved ahead of a joint investigation between police and fire investigators.
