THOUSANDS of pounds worth of equipment used to home educate a six-year-old boy has been destroyed in a fire.

Adrian and Marie Watkiss from Teme Road in Ronkswood, Worcester, said they felt "gutted" because they have spent years developing their son's study room and buying him the best books and computers.

Two appliances from Worcester Fire Brigade's Green watch were sent to the scene shortly after 12.30pm when a neighbour spotted smoke from a first floor window. They used breathing apparatus to rescue the family's pets - a dog, a guinea pig, and three birds.

Apart from the pets, no one was in the house at the time, and one hose reel was used to extinguish the blaze, which took an hour to deal with.

Mrs Watkiss said the destruction of the equipment was a big setback.

"We want the best for him," said 25-year-old Mrs Watkiss, who doesn't want her son named. "And that is what he has at home with one-to-one tuition with me.

"He is achieving more than the average child. It is not a requirement for him to have these resources but we want to give him the best that we can."

Mr Watkiss, aged 28, who is a systems analyst, said they had gone out shopping just before midday.

"We went out to buy a cage for a guinea pig that we had just bought," he said.

"As we were coming home we could see the fire engine from the bottom of the road. We could tell it was our house - I just feel gutted.

"We have got smoke detectors downstairs but not upstairs because we are having the house refurbished."

John Dasgupta, station commander at Worcester Fire Station, said the fire was being investigated.

"The fire had not developed into a full-grown fire when the crews extinguished it. The damage is heat and smoke damage to the first floor."