A dog was killed and a family home wrecked after a huge fire was started by sun rays shining through a Nutella jar.
Beloved family pet Chili, a nine-year-old Jack Russell, died from smoke inhalation while trapped inside the house in Twickenham, south west London, as the fire raged.
Firefighters believe it was caused by low winter sunlight being refracted through the glass chocolate spread container, which was being used to hold loom bands.
Electrical supervisor Declan Murphy, 41, told Get West London: "We're all heartbroken at Chili's death and we've been told it will be up to a year before the house is ready for us to move back into.
"I want to ensure other people are aware of the dangers and know to keep glass items away from windows and out of direct sunlight so they don't have to go through anything like this."
Mr Murphy had been out of the house at the time, celebrating the anniversary of his engagement with his wife and two children.
The jar had been sitting on the windowsill of his daughter's bedroom.
The fire on Sunday, February 15, destroyed the first-floor bedroom and also damaged the roof of the house.
Charlie Pugsley, from the London Fire Brigade's fire investigation unit, said: "It sounds far fetched that a jar containing a few rubber bands caused a severe house fire but that’s exactly what happened.
"It’s worth spending five minutes checking that your window ledges are clear of any glass or crystal that might lead to potentially life changing blaze."
