Five escape house blaze Flood action


A DISCARDED cigarette end could have been the cause of a fire that completely destroyed a family home in East Peckham, leaving the devastated occupants wearing only the clothes they stood up in. The Eldridge family had a


lucky escape when a smoke alarm woke them in the early hours of March 1, alerting them to the fact their homewas on fire. Maureen Eldridge and her four grown-up children, Bradley, Laura, Ryan and Mark escaped unharmed – but the house and


Addington prepares


for Diamond Jubilee PLANS are in hand in Adding- ton for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Families are invited to bring picnics, champagne and cande- labras to the village hall on Sat- urday, June 4, where there will be entertainment from a magi- cian, a hog roast and dancing to Red Sky. Other events include an exhi-


bition on Addington at the vil- lage hall on Sunday and Monday, June 3 and 4: a dis- play on the history of St Mar- garet’s Church in the Geoffrey Grimes Room; tours of the Seekers Trust on Saturday, June 2; and tours of the Neolithic Stones on Saturday, June 2.


Teenagers visit Oxford spires The sixth-formers outside Pembroke College, University of Oxford


SIXTH-formers fromTheMallingSchoolandHolmesdale TechnologyCol- lege gotataste of student lifewhenthey visited the Universityof Oxford. Forty year 12 pupils from the federated schools made the trip with


their heads of sixth form, Mrs Claire Butler, from The Malling School, andMrs Pauline McCarthy, from Holmesdale Technology College.


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Malling 11


contents were less fortunate. Four fire engines attended the


blaze in Pattenden Gardens after the family and their two dogs fled the house and dialled 999. At one point, more than 25 fire- fighters were trying to extinguish the blaze as it threatened to en- gulf the house and neighbouring properties. The fire caused extensive dam-


age to the house and invaded the roof space, soffits, facia and gut- tering of the neighbouring prop- erty.


Paddock Wood crew manager


Ken Collins said: “The family did the right thing on hearing their smoke alarms sounding.” The fire service has launched


an investigation into the cause of the blaze, which is thought to have started with a discarded cigarette end in the conservatory at the house,which is owned by Russet. Russet has found the family temporary accommodation in the area and is now looking to find them something more per- manent while the damage is as- sessed and repaired.


meeting date


THERE will be a meeting for East Peckham residents af- fected by flooding at the village hall onWednesday,March 21. The Environment Agency is checking doorstep heights in the Little Mill area, which is at risk of flood, despite the con- struction of the Coults Dam. In Little Mill, 57 properties


are still vulnerable and the Government had set aside £1m to rectify the problem. How- ever, strict budgets mean noth- ing has happened yet. Options range from a high-


cost flood protection scheme, to which residents could be asked to contribute, to cheaper- solutions, such as homeowners installing non-return valves on their drains and putting in water-resistant doors. The meeting, which starts at 7.30pm, is open to all. There are fears homes could


be uninsurable when a govern- ment agreement with the insur- ance industry ends next year.


Pensioners’ dinner HADLOW Scout Group’s an- nual senior citizens’ dinner will be held at Hadlow College on April 1. Those wishing to at- tend should put their name on the list at Hadlow Pharmacy or call Caroline Howard on 01732 851689.


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