Arsonists are feared to have set fire to a house extension containing the mains gas meter while a trainee vicar and his two young children were asleep upstairs.

Iain McLaren, and his two children Gift, nine, and Diana, 12, were asleep at the family home in Palmer Road, Wood Farm, Oxford, just after 2am when Mr McLaren was suddenly awoken by a loud bang.

He said: "I can't have been asleep for more than 30 minutes when I heard the noise. At first I thought it was a cat on the roof, but it was too loud for that.

"I tried to switch the lights on, but there was no electricity. I looked out of the landing room window and saw these huge flames coming up from the utility room.

"I was concerned that it might have been an explosion because the gas meter is stored there, and I quickly woke the children up and got them to the front of the house.

"I was pretty nervous - my main concern was that it was in the same building as the children."

Mr McLaren raised the alarm and firefighters arrived within minutes, but the room, which contained garden tools, some carpet and a small heater, was gutted.

The fire was doused before it could do any damage to the main part of the building and nobody was injured.

Police believe arsonists were responsible and have appealed for witnesses.

Bizarrely, a fork secured to Mr McLaren's bicycle with a padlock chain was found in the garden.

Nothing was stolen and Mr McLaren said he had no idea who would want to set fire to his home.

He added: "I don't know whether the fire was started on purpose, or accidentally by somebody who was looking to steal stuff.

"I think if there were burglars around it would be quite a temptation, as the door was slightly ajar and did not close properly, but there is no reason why someone would target me.

"I have had no falling out with anybody."

The main damage to Mr McLaren's house was structural, but he estimated that the final total would be several thousands of pounds.

The outside door of the utility room was completely destroyed and the gas meter and mains pipe will have to be replaced.

He added: "If it was an arson that would be very worrying.

"Police did offer the option of putting a camera up, but decided it would not be required at this stage."

Dc Charlotte Eden, from Oxford CID, said: "While no one was hurt, this incident could easily have been far more serious.

"The property's gas meter was in this outhouse and was severely damaged."

"We are very keen to speak to anyone who may have seen something suspicious in Palmer Road."

Anyone with information should call Dc Eden on 08458 505505. Alternatively, contact the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.