Family escape arson attack

Two cars were destroyed in the attack

A family of six, including four young children, have escaped injury in an arson attack at their home in County Antrim.

The attack happened at a house in Millview Gardens, Ballyclare, which is occupied by a couple and their children, aged between 16 months and 12.

Approximately £20,000 of damage was caused to the property and to two cars parked in the driveway which were destroyed in the Christmas Eve attack.

A number of items in the cars, including Christmas presents, were destroyed.

Police do not believe the incident was sectarian. They have appealed for information.

'Christian festival'

Ulster Unionist assembly member Jim Wilson said the family could have been killed.

"The youngsters would have been thinking about Santa, the parents would have been thinking about the preparation of the house for Christmas, the preparation of gifts for the children," he said.

"Everyone's in that frame of mind at the minute, we're in the Christmas spirit, the spirit of giving, the spirit of receiving and indeed in the middle of a Christian festival.

"I find it difficult to understand how anyone would think about carrying out this kind of an act."