Express & Star

Teen back on track after devastating fire destroyed entire model car collection

A teenager has received an early Christmas present in the wake of a devastating fire which wiped out his entire model car collection.

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Liam Harley, aged 14, had around 600 models in his collection until fire swept through his former home in Ruskin Street in West Bromwich three months ago.

But thanks to an appeal by his father Paul which was answered by three Express & Star readers, Liam now has almost 100 model cars.

Mr Harley has also helped rebuild the collection by buying model cars at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale last month.

The 15-year-old was taken to hospital with smoke insulation after leaping from the flames at his former house.

He now sleeps with the window open in his bedroom in fear of the fire.

He said: "It does mean a lot to have people come forward and give me the cars. I had so many before, it was hard after I lost them, but this has helped me."

Among those to answer the appeal was Martin Bridger. The 34-year-old handed over about 30 cars in September to kick-start his collection.

Liam's father, Paul, said: "The donation of cars has been a real help.

"He may not have as many as he had before, but he's in a better position than he was and is very grateful."

The teenager's original collection included old 1970s match box cars. There sports, saloon and vintage cars.

The fire at the home was started deliberately through the letter box. Police released CCTV images as part of an appeal a month following the fire.

Firefighters took three hours to tackle the blaze. They used a hydraulic platform to target the flames in the roof.

The top floor and roof of the semi-detached house was left gutted and the family forced to move out.

Liam was in the house at the time of the family, along with his twin brother Callum and mother Diane Potter.

He helped raise the alarm before jumping from a bedroom window to then wake up his father, who was asleep in a granny flat.

A 57-year-old man from Bromyard in Herefordshire was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on November 27.

He has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

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