Mum dies trying to save son from blaze

London: Bonfire Night thugs were blamed for the horrific death of a devoted mother.

Mary Fox pushed her teenage son through a window to safety as a blaze tore through their house.

But she was overcome by smoke and flames before she could escape herself. Neighbours said the blaze was started by a firework, dropped through Fox's letterbox by a gang who had bullied her son because of his mild learning difficulties.

It set fire to the hallway, trapping Fox, 59, and 17-year-old Raum upstairs. The tragedy on Thursday recalls the case of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her daughter Francecca, 18, after ten years of torment from a gang of local youths.

Francecca also suffered from learning disabilities.

As neighbours paid tribute to Fox, it emerged that her son recently changed schools because of the bullying.

Doreen Rowe, 59, her neighbour in Bodmin, Cornwall, said: "Mary was a dear old soul and a hero.

"Her son survived because she pushed him out of the window but she got trapped by the fire.

"With it being Bonfire Night there were loads of kids on the street armed with fireworks. Police have told us one of them has put one through Mary's letterbox.

"My husband saw a whole gang of youngsters carrying fireworks not long before it happened.

Harsh kids

Family friend Kerry Ollerenshaw, 36, a care worker, said: "Her son had learning difficulties and the kids on this estate can be very harsh... A gang had been letting off all sorts of bangers and rockets near their home for days."

Brett Millington, 17, said: "Raum was badly bullied. It wasn't all physical, he suffered a lot of psychological abuse. "Kids would make fun of his bad acne and call him "spotty" and jeer at his greasy hair. Raum always kept himself to himself. He never socialised with anyone in or out of school.

The teenager was treated for minor injuries at Bodmin Hospital and was being cared for by relatives last night. Police said they are investigating the blaze and fire chiefs have confirmed they are looking at fireworks as a possible cause.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the investigation was being hampered by the extensive damage to the house "but nothing has been ruled out".

Steve Halstead, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Crews arrived at the scene to find a severe fire. There were flames already visible from the windows... Unfortunately the fire was fully developed and they found the casualty was already deceased."