Arsonists attack family farm - twice

A heartbroken farming family whose home has been hit twice by arsonists in a week is offering a £1,000 reward for information to trace the attackers.

Sam and Gabrielle Gill live with their three young children on a 12-acre farm perched on a hillside overlooking Uppermill in Saddleworth.

They inherited the farm from Sam’s grandfather, Martin Warburton, a much-loved village policeman, and have built a successful business from scratch.

Mrs Gill, 29, outlined the problems at the farm, which began last week while they were on a family holiday abroad.

She said: "Two vehicles were vandalized in the initial attack.

"We offered £1,000 for any information leading to finding the attackers, which of course will be kept completely confidential.

"If anyone in the area has seen anything please let us know.

“We thought it was a targeted attack.

"But never in a million years did we think there would be another attack,” she declared.

The second attack came in the early hours of Monday morning when the family were woken by loud bangs outside their bedroom window and saw one of their tractors going up in flames.

Emergency services arrived and discovered a fire inside one of the tractors at their business in agricultural contracting, groundworks and excavations.

“The bangs sounded like shot guns outside the bedroom window,” she said.

"I looked out to find the tractor bellowing smoke and completely up in flames.

“I quickly woke Sam, 32, and called the fire brigade and the police but it was too late - the tractor was gone.

"The low lifes were nowhere to be seen.

"They just left behind footprints and a mess.

“They had opened the tractor door and set it alight from in side then ran away.

"Sam had to get in the other machinery which was near by to prevent it from spreading and destroying more of the things that he works so hard to pay for. “

Mrs Gill added: "Sam is a total grafter he works seven days a week most weeks and is never usually in the house after 7am and doesn’t return home until it's gone dark.

"It’s heartbreaking and sickening that someone thinks this kind of thing is acceptable.

"We have totally upgraded the security systems and hopefully this will prevent another attack on our beautiful home and family.

“Our house we built ourselves.

"We knocked down the old barn and built our family home just four years ago, with hard-earned money and a little of my inheritance also.

"It will cost £120k if they decide to write off the trailer and tanker that were damaged due to the fire.”

Meanwhile, shocked neighbours and friends have offered the family support.

“Everyone has been so kind,” Mrs Gill added.

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