A TRAUMATISED Marlborough couple say they have not slept after two of their garden sheds and much of their backyard was burnt to a crisp on Monday evening.

John Rutter was in the living room when the fire began in one shed, and he rushed to remove petrol from the shed next door before that too caught light.

“It was spreading like wildfire, just out of control. I knew it would be worse if I did not get the petrol out so I got in there and then called the emergency services,” said Mr Rutter, who works for Earthline Ltd.

Fire crews from Marlborough and Pewsey rushed to Coldharbour Lane at 5.42pm but were unable to save Debbie and John Rutter’s garden sheds, and some of their hedges and fences were also scorched by the blaze.

In the two nights since the fire, the couple, both 45, who live with their 16-year-old daughter Lucy and their 20-year-old son Sam, say they have have barely slept as they are worried about another fire starting at any time, as the firefighters do not know what caused the blaze.

“It has been a horrific time for us. We have not slept at all since the fire. I have been so worried as nobody has any idea how it started,” said Mrs Rutter, who works as a carer.

“It is like a bomb has gone off. Our sheds have been completely destroyed, with lots of bikes and gardening equipment too. My daughter Lucy was so upset.

“I was coming back from Marlborough Common and I heard people talking about the fire but when you realise it is coming from your house it is terrifying. The heat was so powerful.

“The fact that even the firefighters do not know how it started is very scary. On Thursday the insurance people will come round and they will take down the shed that is still standing, which has asbestos in it, and clear all the wreckage.

“We are just lucky it did not go onto the house as I shudder to think what might have happened there.”

“It is very sad looking at what is left of it all," Mr Rutter said. "I just hope we can get it all back. The firefighters did a great job and were very helpful. They stayed for a couple of hours and made it all safe. It really is a sad sight.”

Firefighters used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus kits to tackle the flames.

A fire service spokesman said the cause of the fire is being classified as unknown as there was no clear indication of the cause.