BERLIN, GERMANY - A German amateur gardener's house was a smouldering wreck on Friday after he set it on fire clearing weeds from his garden with the help of a flame-thrower, police said.

After he accidentally set his hedge alight, the 54-year-old's garden shed was soon also engulfed in flames and despite efforts to extinguish the fire with a garden hose, the blaze spread to the roof of the house.

Seven fire engines were needed to put out the blaze in Tangstedt near Hamburg in northern Germany, which occurred on Thursday. Police said the house was now uninhabitable.

Flame-throwers are used widely in agriculture and also in gardening, but generally only for removing weeds from between cracks in paving in driveways and patios. --AFP