A mum has been made homeless and lost all her children’s Christmas presents worth thousands of pounds after a fire destroyed her home.
Toni Shield, 35, was with friends on Wednesday when she received a number of frantic calls from neighbours saying her house was up in flames.
The mum of two rushed home to find a number of fire engines battling the flames in the ground floor of her home.
Police have launched an investigation with officers currently unable to rule out arson, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Gutted Toni said: “My home is gone, I don't have insurance and I'm basically homeless. Not one person in my family will be getting a present off me this year.
“"My neighbour told me she heard a bang when the windows blew out. Another person from across the street was trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher but the flames were coming out of the window.
"I had literally just bought the kids presents and they were on the couch ready to be wrapped that night.
“I had saved up all year and bought thousands of pounds of presents, a TV for their room, iPhones, everything.
"I can't think of a reason anybody would want to set my house on fire, I'm just a normal girl living a normal life who is trying to be a good mum.
“With the cost of living crisis I'm really careful with my electric, the only thing I can think of is I might have left the lamp on.
"My daughter was at my mum's house and came running to see what was going on when everybody found out. She was really emotional about it all.
"I think I'm in shock at the moment. I've lived here since I was 21 and don't really have a lot.
“Now all my furniture has gone, everything has gone."
Toni is staying at her mum's house while she waits for news on a temporary home.
Her friends are looking into setting up a GoFundMe page.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called to Craigside Avenue, Liverpool L12, on Wednesday 21st December. Crews were alerted at 7.48pm and on scene at 7.53pm. Three fire engines attended.
"On arrival crews found a fire on the ground floor of a property. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and used high pressure hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. All persons were accounted for.
"Fire crews left the scene at 10.19pm. An investigation into the fire will be carried out in due course."
