HIS family was made homeless when their £750,000 cottage went up in flames. Now Alex Reay is determined to hammer home one important message to fellow thatch-owners.

Alex, his wife Cheryl and their daughter Biba, who was born just three days after the blaze, were forced to live apart during the renovation project at the 17th century Dairy Cottage in Mockbeggar Lane, Ibsley, in the New Forest.

With the devastating Fire caused by a faulty chimney flue, Alex, whose home has featured on the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs, is now helping to stop it happening to another family.

As well as starting his own company, Forest Flues and Fires, installing safe pumice chimney liners, Alex is backing a safety campaign run by Hampshire Fire and Rescue.

He said: “When it comes to the number of thatched cottage fires, the biggest cause of them is faulty chimneys, especially the type of liners they are fitted with, or wood burners,” said Alex.

“People always think: ‘It’ll never happen to me’, but if our story can help change attitudes then it will be worth it.

“There are so many houses in the New Forest with thatch roofing that it is important to get this message of prevention out there.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is delivering an information pack to New Forest homes that are on the national thatch register.

A fire service spokesperson said: “Each incident has a major impact on the thatch householder, the community, and the service.

“We recognised that many of these incidents could have been easily prevented if simple precautionary measures were taken.”

The Thatch Information Pack was produced to educate householders and encourage them to take responsibility for their properties.

Thatch property householders in the New Forest should contact their local fire station or Community Safety at service headquarters on 023 8064 4000 for further information.