A TERRORSTRUCK Ipswich granddad today said he is frightened to sleep after arsonists tried to torch his home while his four-year-old granddaughter slept.

A TERRORSTRUCK Ipswich granddad today said he is frightened to sleep after arsonists tried to torch his home while his four-year-old granddaughter slept.

Robert Parker told how his Shakespeare Road house was targeted early yesterday morning.

The incident occurred less than two weeks after prime minister Tony Blair launched his Respect campaign to clamp down on yobbish behaviour.

The 62-year-old granddad believes the people targeting him are youngsters in the area who tried to break into his garden shed before setting fire to the front door and wheelie bin.

Mr Parker has lived in his home for nine years and is one of three generations of his family currently living there.

He now fears reprisal attacks after the lucky escape at the weekend when he was alerted to the fire by his son who was coming home from a night out in the town centre.

Between the two men they managed to put out the blaze before it damaged the house or hurt members of the family.

He said: “It was around 4am when there was a lot of commotion at the front door.

“I didn't know what was going on so came down the stairs to investigate. It was then that I saw my son, Richard, at the front door which was alight.”

Between the two men they managed to put out the fire in the wooden front door and in a wheelie bin, which had also been set alight.

Mr Parker added: “It was all very scary. We have had break-ins before but nothing like this.

“My four-year-old granddaughter is staying here at the moment and had Richard not come home when he did the fire could have got out of control and hurt her.

“I am now so worried that these people might come back and try it again that I have taken to sleeping on the sofa to keep a look out in the street.

“I would like to move away from the area.”

Richard Parker, 29, said he did not have to think twice before helping his dad put the fires out.

He said: “I was coming home from a night out at Liquid Nightclub when it happened.

“As soon as I saw the fire I let myself in and started shouting for my dad. We quickly ran for a bucket and filled it with water.

“We were very lucky that it had only just happened and there was minimum damage caused.”

The Parker's said they have reported yesterday's incident to police.

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