A WOMAN described to a murder trial jury how a man made a threat against her next door neighbours the night before a fatal fire.

Mandy Harris heard shouting in the The Glade, Malvern Link, as she returned from posting a letter.

She alleged Stephen George-Davies was angry and said to members of the Perkins family outside their home: "We'll get them later. I'll be back later."

Worcester Crown Court has heard that George-Davies, thrown out of the Perkins' home for exposing himself, returned in the early hours next day and began a fire using petrol.

Husband Richard Perkins, 38, died in the inferno that engulfed the terraced property.

His wife Roseann, 40, and step-daughter Katie, 17, were badly injured by smoke inhalation while escaping through windows along with three other occupants.

George-Davies, aged 51, of Oak Crescent, Malvern, denies murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

The jury heard he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson being reckless whether life was endangered before the trial began.

Miss Harris said she woke in the night hearing two women screaming for help.

She encouraged Ben Perkins, 18, to jump from a bedroom window and called the fire brigade.

Her boyfriend Joseph Smith got a hosepipe in a desperate bid to douse flames spreading up the porch from the top of the front door.

Mr Smith recalled that George-Davies had warned the family: “I’ll be back later and you’ll have it.”

The prosecution allege that George-Davies deliberately started the blaze to cause serious harm to the family.

He claims he lit petrol vapour from a canister to leave a scorch mark on the door to frighten the occupants and never anticipated a huge blaze.

The trial continues on Monday.