Warning after Nutella jar sparks fire killing dog

A family dog died and a house was badly damaged in a fire sparked by the sun shining on an empty Nutella jar.

Fire fighters believe the glass container, which was being used to collect loom bands, caused the sun's rays to become magnified setting fire to nearby blinds.

The Murphy family were not in their Twickenham home at the time but their Jack Russell Chilli was trapped inside.

Dad Declan, who was out celebrating his anniversary with wife Lindsay and two children when the fire started, said they were "heartbroken".

Speaking to Get West London, he said: "We've been told it will be up to a year before the house is ready for us to move back into.

"I want to ensure other people are aware of the dangers and know to keep glass items away from windows and out of direct sunlight so they don't have to go through anything like this."

Charlie Pugsley, from the London Fire Brigade (LFB), said: "It sounds far fetched that a jar containing a few rubber bands caused a severe house fire but that's exactly what happened.

"It's worth spending five minutes checking that your window ledges are clear of any glass or crystal that might lead to a potentially life changing blaze."

Last week lingerie tycoon Michelle Mone told how a fire broke out at her home in similar circumstances.

Ms Mone put the fire out herself and firefighters did not attend.

The London Fire Brigade said sun rays have caused 125 fires in the last five years and warned they are a risk in the winter as well as the summer.