Grand Designs couple heartbroken after losing everything in fire set by vandals

dailystar.co.uk:

Channel 4 show Grand Designs: The Streets, revealed they lost all their possessions in a fire.Animator Joanna and carpenter Ben from Glasgow set out with ambitious plans to build the home with a budget of just £170,000.Taking part in Scotland's maiden urban self build scheme, they were the first to break ground after paying £50,000 for the plot of land "in a gritty part of Glasgow".In order to save money, the pair had to come up with all sorts of creative ways to keep costs down with Ben even building his own scaffolding.While working on the project, which aims to give families the opportunity to better their home life and the outlook of the city, Joanna and Ben were staying in a wooden caravan.Devastatingly, during Wednesday night's episode of the Channel 4 programme (May 4) it was revealed local vandals had burned it to the ground while they were away for one night."I had a phone call and he said 'your caravan is not here'," recalled Joanna. "Just singed down to the ground.

It had all our stuff in it."It was just a big, black rectangle. Somebody vandalised it."Viewers now fear the couple's project, made from natural wood, might be in danger.One said: "My heart sank when their caravan was burnt to cinders.

Such a gutsy couple taking on the challenge of building a wooden house in that area also. I pray it turns out well for them and their fellow neighbours on the street eventually but...."A second tweeted: "Watching Grand Designs on Channel 4 up at Maryhill...

when I start watching it I think 'hmm they might have issues with neds'.... two minutes in, yup!"A third echoed: "Such a stupid place to build a solo unit, said before the caravan was torched, 'that'll get burnt down'.