Couple's £362,000 lawsuit after BBQ destroyed home

AN elderly couple left homeless when their bungalow went up in flames are suing their next door neighbour for £362,000, claiming his disposable barbecue sparked the blaze.

- By Richard Gittins

Harold Shearing, 79, and wife Susan were sitting at the kitchen table of their £500,000 home in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, in 2023 when they saw smoke rising from the attached garage of their next door neighbour Michael Smedley.

Flames spread to their own house and, despite the fire brigade arriving quickly, their property was so badly damaged it was rendered "uninhabitable".

The Shearings who both failed to win the 2023 local government elections as Reform UK candidates are now suing their neighbour.