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Anthony and Angela McIntyre spent £8,400 having the 20 panels installed on their roof three years ago.

But a faulty circuit in the loft triggered a fire which gutted most of the four-bedroom detached house.

The blaze started as the couple’s younger daughter Chloe, 15, was lying in bed asleep. Anthony dashed to wake her and get her out.

“I thought ‘no way’ and looked out the window and saw smoke. It was then I realised it was coming from our house

The family then watched from their garden as the flames took hold and left the house in Thornbury, Glos, a smouldering wreck.

The couple and daughters Chloe and Sophie, 19, are still in rented accommodation following the fire while their home is being rebuilt at a cost of up to £200,000.

Anthony, 51, a production technician at Oldbury nuclear power station, said: “My wife was around and our youngest daughter was still in bed.

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“Angela said she was going to put some washing out and she came downstairs and said someone was having a bonfire in the back garden.

“I thought ‘no way’ and looked out the window and saw smoke. It was then I realised it was coming from our house.

“I had no idea what it could have been at the time - I was only interested in getting my daughter.” Despite the fire Anthony said he will still have solar panels fitted again. He added:

“All the electrical work will be in the garage and it will have smoke detectors. “It’s made the wife and children a bit worried about having them back but they are coming round to the idea.”

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