Heartbreak as Halloween display set on fire

Stan Yannetta raises thousands of pounds each year for charity through his displays

The man behind a charity Halloween display says he was left devastated when it was torched the night before the big event.

Stan Yannetta has been creating spooky displays and Christmas decorations for more than 15 years, raising thousands of pounds each year.

The blaze on Heaton Gardens in South Shields was spotted shortly after 23:00 GMT on Thursday. While no arrests have been made, CCTV footage showed a man wearing a balaclava pour an accelerant over the display before it alights.

"I've cried all night because it's a lot of work we do each and every year and it's all gone," Mr Yannetta said.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said the fire started in a shed but "spread to the external properties of other addresses".

Mr Yannetta said he said he had never seen a fire like it.

"It's hard to explain the experience to people, it was very heartbreaking and I couldn't talk to anybody - I knew then I'd just lost everything," he said.

The fire completely destroyed the display at the South Shields house

Holding back tears, he said seeing children enjoying the display made him feel good, but "it's all ended now".

"I'm just devastated," he said.

Work had started on building the display in September and Mr Yannetta said he had only just got his van back on the road, after it was set on fire about five weeks ago.

This year he had intended to donate money to animal charity Pawz for Thought, newborn baby charity Tiny Lives Trust and SURT: Stopping Unsafe Relationships Together.

CCTV footage shows the moment the display caught fire

Mr Yannetta has been decorating his house at Christmas and Halloween for several years and has spent more than £1,000 on holiday lights.

His best friend, Richy Ames, who had helped him set up the display, said the community had shown great support, with many expressing their sadness and anger at the fire.

"I don't think Stan will ever recover from this, it's heartbreaking for him," Mr Ames said.

"We just want to know why."

The displays raise thousands of pounds for charity each year

Mr Yannetta dresses as Santa for the month of December, Mr Ames said, and meets the children who visit the Christmas display every day, but he said he did not think it would go ahead this year.

He said those responsible for the fire were "low-lifes".

"Why should somebody spoil it for everyone else?" he said.

He added the charities who benefitted from the events would lose thousands of pounds.

Northumbria Police has appealed to anyone with information about the fire to come forward.

The fire service said the flames spread from the decorations to nearby properties