A TERRIFIED disabled resident has described how a late night arson attack on a van which trapped her in her house has left her unable to sleep at night.

Kathleen Price, 57, of Thames Drive, described watching her and her partner’s “brand-new” van go up in smoke after a yob poured petrol over it and set it alight.

The disabled Chadwell St Mary resident, who suffers from curvature of the spine and severe osteoarthritis, said she was alerted when her dogs started barking while she was watching TV.

Ms Price said: “The next minute I looked out of my house and saw my van was on fire and I couldn’t get out.

“All I wanted to do was escape but the van was outside my front gate – because of the gas works going on.

“The flames were so high it looked like a fireworks display and it kept going bang. I kept thinking, the gas works are going to go up as well.”

Ms Price said the fire brigade had said later if the fire had been any closer to the petrol tank that would have exploded and her windows would have been blown out.

She said: “I was so shocked. It’s heartbreaking.

“I haven’t had a proper sleep since it happened because every time there’s a little noise I jump.”

In an extra blow, the van had not yet been insured as the couple were refitting it for disabled use with a mobility scooter.

Partner Ian Fairhurst, 46, Glosher Avenue, East Tilbury, said he was “devastated” at the damage to a van they had only had for a week.

Mr Fairhurst said: “I’m gutted, because someone’s doing it because they think I’m going to steal their business but I only got it for my family who are disabled.”

Ms Price also added the police response had left her feeling “unsafe”.

She said: “The police response has been appalling because it’s arson. I don’t feel one hundred per cent safe.

"We have all got CCTV round here. Our camera caught him setting light to it then running off. We’ve got footage of the boy coming up to the van and pouring petrol over it out of a jerry can.

“I reckon they’re going to do it again. I’m frightened for the neighbours as well. One of my neighbours has got Parkinson’s and when it happened he came out and was shaking all over.”

Essex Fire Brigade confirmed the fire was “deliberate” and one fire crew from Orsett were dispatched.

Ms Price added: “This has gone too far now. We haven’t done anything to anybody and we don’t know where else to turn to.”

A spokesman for Essex police said: “Police are investigating after a Ford Transit minibus was set alight in Thames Drive, Chadwell St Mary, at 9.50pm on April 12.

"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call police at Grays on 101."