SEVERAL people have been left homeless and a businesswoman's dream has been destroyed after an arson attack in Cinderford.

Around 30 firefighters were called in to deal with the blaze which broke out in a flat in Market Street in the early hours of Sunday. Neighbouring properties were evacuated after the alarm was raised by more than 20 people – including young heroes Holly Merlock, 17, Nick Dean, 20, and Marcus Pick, 22, who ran round to help people out of their flats.

Fire crews, who also rescued four cats, had to use an aerial ladder platform to tackle the blaze in Market Street, which started at about 2.30am.

Mitcheldean electrician Nick, 20, said: "I was visiting friends in the High Street when we heard a fire alarm go off.

"It didn't stop so we went out to look and saw flames pouring out of a flat above a shop in Market Street. We heard shouting and a baby crying so we banged on people's doors and helped them get out before the fire engines arrived."

Jacinta Howells, 22, lost all of her possessions when the flat next to hers went up in flames. She was rescued through her bedroom window and had to climb down a ladder to safety.

She said: "When I woke up I could hear a crackling noise in the roof space as the fire was moving through the attic. I managed to rescue two of my cats and firefighters got the other two.

"It wasn't the fire that did the damage but the roof was gone and there was water and ash over everything."

Jacinta will have to stay at a B&B until the council can find her another flat, which could take more than two months.

Tania Self-Dixon from Littledean lost her dress-making shop Alicianna's which was due to open only days after the fire. Smoke and water caused £15,000 of damage to the stock and machines.

"I'd like my customers to know that I'm still working," she said.

"Everything in the shop was ruined and although claiming off the other people's insurance is going to take time, the shop will reopen."

n Matthew Pond, 25, from Market Street, Cinderford has been charged with arson in connection with the fire.

He appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday and has been remanded in custody to appear at Gloucester Crown Court on July 13.