A homeowner who was carrying out home improvements in Shanklin this evening (Friday May 14) ended up calling out the fire service after setting fire to his house.

The Red faced homeowner from Spring Road Shanklin was using a blowtorch to remove paint from a porch way attached to front of the three bedroom semi. It is thought that rotten wood caught alight after being hit with a naked flame from the torch. Causing the fire.

Two fire appliances attended from Shanklin and Sandown. The small fire was put out with a hose reel. Fire crews used a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spot within the roof area of the porch.