Les Cottonniers residents had to be evacuated after a fire, believed to have been started by youngsters, outside an empty house. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0808717)

RESIDENTS of Les Cottonniers in the Bouet estate were evacuated from their homes for almost two hours after a fire at the weekend.

It is believed youngsters started the small blaze on Friday night, which began with mattresses at the side of an empty house on the edge of one block.

One resident reported hearing voices shouting ‘the police are here’ before hearing footsteps running away.

The two adjacent houses were occupied – the one next door housing a family including girls aged three and four and a five-month-old boy.

After returning to their house it is understood they spent the rest of the night sleeping in the lounge because of ash in the baby’s cot and the effects of smoke.

The fire was blown by the wind around to the plastic front door of the empty house. Residents are gradually being moved out of the block ahead of its demolition.