Couple's crystal ball failed to predict it would set their bedroom on fire

A couple escaped with their lives from a house fire in north east London which was started by a crystal ball. Rays of sunlight were refracted through the glass ornament, causing a pair of bedroom curtains to set alight.

A man and a woman escaped uninjured from the property in Romford, after trying to put the blaze out themselves with a garden hose and some towels on Saturday afternoon. The man, who was asleep in the bedroom at the time the fire started, was woken by his fire alarm, which firefighters said saved his life.

Fire crews were called to the scene at about 3.50pm and had put out the blaze within an hour. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the accident would serve as a warning to those who keep glass items on window sills.

Mick Boyle, who investigated the incident for the brigade, said: "The blaze caused severe damage to the bedroom but thankfully no one was hurt. That smoke alarm saved his life – he could easily have slept through and been overcome by smoke. You can’t predict the future, but you can prevent this type of fire by keeping glass ornaments, mirrors, and bottles away from sunny window sills."