A COUPLE have told of their family’s devastation when arsonists destroyed hutches in their garden, killing pet rabbits and guinea pigs.

John and Mandy Craft said several hutches were burned in the garden at the back of their home in Burton Stone Lane, York.

The incident is just the latest in a string of fires to affect gardens in the city.

The Press reported last month how the garden of a rented property in Grosvenor Terrace, off Bootham was set alight, causing damage to grass and shrubbery, with a nearby resident saying he feared the damage could have been much worse.

In another incident, four parakeets and three cockatiels died when arsonists started a fire in their aviary on The Burn, off Chapelfields Road, Acomb.

Mr Craft said the family had been out when a fire was started in their garden, and when they had returned home he had been warned by firefighters not to allow his three children to see the animals.

He said two guinea pigs and seven rabbits died in the blaze, including a Continental Giant and one Giant French Lop.

“The family was absolutely devastated,” he said. “It was very upsetting.”

His wife, Mandy, said a neighbour had rescued one rabbit, but it had been so badly burned that it had had to be put down later: “It was absolutely horrible,” she said. “We really don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

She said several fence panels and trees in their neighbour’s garden were also badly damaged in the fire, as well as all the hutches.

North Yorkshire Police said the fire was suspicious. Anyone with information should phone 0845 60 60 247