A FAMILY whose home was hit by a van which had been set on fire by yobs said last night they did not believe they had been deliberately targeted.

Carole Kerswell and her children told the Daily Echo that it had been pure chance the blazing vehicle, pictured, had ended up ploughing into their Southampton terraced house.

The white Ford Escort van was torched and crashed close to the front door of the house in Cumbrian Way, Millbrook, at about 4am yesterday, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo.

Police are investigating the possibility that vandals jammed the accelerator and steering wheel of the van before setting it alight - sending it crashing in front of the home of Carole, her son Lee, 23 and 21-year-old daughter Lisa.

The family took refuge in a neighbour's house while firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to their home.

Carole, 52, who is being comforted by her family said: "I am still in shock. I broke down about it. It is crazy really."

Her other daughter Nikki Fredericks, 25, who lives in nearby Wimpson Lane, said she believed the yobs had set the car alight and jammed the steering wheel and accelerator without a thought of where it may land up.

She said: "We think it was to cause as much damage to the cars across the road as possible.

"I went through my teenage years here.

"We have seen some things but this is beyond a joke. This is not kids being bored."

Redbridge firefighters were called out early yesterday morning after a member of the public spotted flames coming from the vehicle behind the shops in Helvellyn Road in Millbrook.

Moments later, the van hurtled across the road to Cumbrian Way, damaging three parked vehicles and a lamppost.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact PC Simpson at Shirley police station on 0845 045 4545.