Three escape unhurt from blaze at family home

A family have escaped injury during a fire in Co Down.

More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze in Kiltarriff Drive in Rathfriland.

The early-morning fire involved one detached dwelling and plastics stored in the yard of a nearby factory, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.

High winds made conditions difficult.

Three people escaped unhurt.

A PSNI spokeswoman said officers were treating the recycling plant fire as suspicious.

Police received a report of the blaze at 1.51am this morning. A house in nearby Kiltarriff Drive also caught fire and was completely destroyed. A second house was damaged.

A man, woman and young child escaped the blaze.

Police appealed for anybody who noticed anything suspicious to contact them.

Residents in Kiltarriff Drive were advised to stay indoors this morning with doors and windows closed.