A FAMILY has been counting the cost after they claim a faulty washing machine caught fire and set their house ablaze.

Kathryn Dando, her daughters Lauren, eight and Sophie, 14 and their two cats had a lucky escape from the fire at their home in Underhill Crescent, Abergavenny.

Ms Dando also has three other children, Jess, 16, Kelly, 23 and Amy, 21 but was out that day with Sophie and Lauren when the fire occurred.

"We were all out but the two cats were inside, luckily they were OK after a visit to the vets."

Ms Dando said she put the washing machine on at 8am and turned it off at 11am, "I went out and at 3.20pm the house was in flames. The washing machine had scorch marks on it and I was told it was likely that it caused the fire. Fire investigators took it away to investigate.

"I haven't got anything out of the house. Everything in the house is ruined - even my bed covers are smoked damaged."

Ms Dando's friend Carol Lewis said, "She slept on the floor of her other daughter's home while a new home was being sorted out.

"There's not much to salvage for her. We're all trying to help her out, she's also facing vets bills for the cats."

Ms Dando has to temporarily leave her part time job to sort out her home and children. "I just want to warn people about electrical items and especially washing machines. Get them checked out. Mine wasn't even turned on, I never leave plugs on - I've got a thing about it."

Kathryn has been helped by Monmouthshire County Council with a flat until her home is repaired.

A spokeswoman from the Fire Service confirmed that fire was electrical and was caused by the washing machine.

A spokeswoman said, "The fire was started in the washing machine, behind the control panel and built up in the kitchen as it was a small room.

"The fire came into contact with combustible material. The owners were out of the house but if they had been there, there were working fire alarms that would have alerted them.