FOUR people had to be rescued from a flat in a converted church after a suspected arson attack.

Police are now investigating after an item was pushed against a door to a private flat in Stonechurch, in Cannon Street, Deane, and set alight.

The residents, who suffered from smoke inhalation, had to be rescued from the blaze by firefighters breaking the doors down at about 6.45am this morning.

The door to the flat was charred and burnt away at the bottom. It appears that something may have been put under the door and then set on fire.

Police and the fire service have now launched an investigation into the second-floor fire, and are appealing for witnesses.

Nobody was injured in the incident, although the second floor of the block was left heavily smoke-logged.

Bolton Central watch manager Ian Reid said he believes the fire was started intentionally, and is working to determine the cause.

He said: "It looks like they tried to set fire to the door and the carpet. We broke the doors down to get them out of the flat, and the top floor was heavily smoke logged.

"We are urging anyone who knows anything about this to get in touch."

A police spokesman said: "We received a call from the fire service at 7am to a fire at a block of flats.

"The fire was to a front door and it looks as if it was deliberately ignited.

"It was on the second floor in a communal corridor where an item was pushed against the door and lit, causing fire damage."

No arrests have been made yet, and police are now set to trawl through CCTV footage obtained from the flats in a bid to identify the culprits.

The inhabitants of the flat targeted did not wish to comment.

The Stonechurch apartment building is a converted church owned by social landlords Contour Homes.

All the flats in the building are let out solely to people who have registered with Bolton Council's Homes for Bolton scheme, according to Contour.

Stonechurch was formerly used by St Paul with Emmanuel Church, which now operates across the road.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.