Lucky Clover's escape (From Stroud News and Journal)

Lucky Clover's escape

POPULAR street entertainer Clive 'Clover' Bushell says an arson attack which nearly killed him will not ruin his Christmas.

And despite the callous attack his faith in human nature has been restored by the courage of fire-fighters who rescued him from his smoke filled flat.

"There is no doubt about it they saved my life," said Clive - who is known to most people in Stroud for busking with his keyboard in the town centre.

The blaze began just after 11pm on Monday in a pile of cardboard boxes stacked under a canopy at Stroud's Shambles market, near Clive's first floor flat above clothing shop Pure.

Flames spread quickly, sending smoke billowing into Clive's home through his open window and under the door.

"I was fast asleep and the next thing I knew a man with a yellow mask on grabbed me by the shoulder and told me to get out," said the 47-year-old, who has received a civic award for his busking.

"Without him I would have suffocated within five minutes because I would have inhaled the smoke in my sleep.

"When I got outside the amount of smoke coming from the fire was just unbelievable.

"I didn't know what was going on and I was coughing from the fumes.

"If it hadn't been stopped in time the whole market would have gone up.

"I gave the crew a card and some of my Christmas CDs just to say a massive thank you.

"You just don't realise what an amazing job they do until something like this happens to you."

Clive escaped uninjured and despite being shaken-up he was out the following day bringing festive music to the high street.

"There was no way it was going to stop me from playing carols for shoppers," he said.

"And there is no way this will stop me enjoying Christmas."

Two fire crews from Stroud attended the incident.

Sub-officer Jamie Roffe, who was in charge of the operation, said Clive had been lucky.

"A few more lungfulls and he would have been in trouble," he said.

"There was a lot of smoke and that is what does the damage."

Luckily the blaze caused only minor damage to the courtyard, which is used for twice weekly markets.

The next morning there was debris under the portico, which was charred, and the area was sealed off with police tape.

Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as deliberate. Anyone with information should call Stroud police on 0845 090 1234.