Paperweight starts fire in Scotland

ELGIN, Scotland, Aug 8, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A Scottish paperweight collector almost lost his home when a new purchase placed on his windowsill focused the sun's rays and started a fire.

Matthew Williams of Elgin was napping in his living room when the fire began, The Daily Mail reported. A friend who dropped in noticed the fire and woke him.

Williams, who has been collecting paperweights for seven years, has put his collection into storage to protect them and himself.

"I always thought it was a harmless hobby," he said. "I certainly never thought a paperweight could kill me."

Fred Welsh of Grampian Fire and Rescue said owners of glass objects that might function as lenses should be careful to keep them out of direct sunlight.

The paperweight that caused the trouble was one of three that Williams had just purchased at a charity thrift shop for about $18.