Daughter makes fresh appeal over father's firework murder

The daughter of a man killed when a firework was set off in his house as he sat down to enjoy a takeaway meal has appealed for information to help catch her father’s killers.

Fiona Nicholls’ plea came as the independent charity Crimestoppers offered a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Anthony Nicholls’ killers.

Detectives believe the key to solving the case lies in the local community, and are analysing hundreds of hours of CCTV in an effort to identify the killers.

56-year-old Mr Nicholls, aged 56, died in hospital following the blaze at his home in Birchtrees Crescent, Tile Cross, on 2 November.

The fire started after the industrial-sized firework was placed in the property by a group of men who burst into Mr Nicholls’ home at around 11.20pm as he and his partner enjoyed a Chinese takeaway.

The firework was lit and caused a major fire.

His partner, a 50-year-old woman, escaped with fractures to her lower limbs after jumping from a first floor window at the property. She has been released from hospital, but suffered life changing injuries.

Mr Nicholls died as a result of the blaze