Flat, car and flytipping fires believed to be suspected arson in 12 hours attacks over Bolton

Firefighters tackled a number of fires around the town until the early hours of yesterday morning when a couple had to be rescued from a flat in Halliwell.

A man and a woman, believed to be in their 20s, were trapped inside a first-floor flat when the front door was set on fire in Claremount Court in Faraday Drive.

Firefighters were called at around 5.40am and managed to put out the flames to rescue the couple unharmed.

Bolton watch manager Karsten Boyle said: “It looked like someone had ignited material in a letterbox and the front door was on fire with the occupants on the other side.

“When we arrived they were at the window. We extinguished the fire and got them out of the flat.

“No one was injured because the fire was only on the outside of the door and we got there in the early stages.”

Police officers said they were called at around 5.20am and found minimal damage and no injuries.

An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances around the fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 5619, or 101, quoting incident number 319 of 04/08/17, or through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The previous evening fly-tipped cardboard dumped next to garden fences is thought to have been deliberately set alight.

Firefighters were called to Finlay Street, an alley off Darley Street, in Farnworth at around 6.45pm by a lady who lived nearby.

Crew manager Mike O'Neill said: "I think people are fly-tipping down here and setting it on fire.

"It's looking deliberate. It hadn't spread, but if there was more it could have spread."

He said a lot of cardboard had been set alight and it was not nice for neighbours to have to deal with.

A woman who lived nearby, who asked not to be named, said fly-tipping fires were a regular occurrence in the alley.

She added: "We have lived here so many years and people think they can come here and set fire to it.

"The council say because it's unadopted it's up to the businesses or residents, but this alley isn't ours.

"This fire was close to us and it's not the first time, my husband has had to put them out so many times."

The incident has been reported to Bolton Council.

Crews from Bolton also had to deal with two suspected arson attacks on cars in Bolton.

At 9.30pm a Volkswagen Beetle was burnt out when it burst into flames in Mortfield Lane, off Chorley Old Road.

The owner of the vehicle was on the scene, but told crews she did not know the cause of the fire.

The fire left burn marks on the bushes by the roadside, with glass and other residue on the ground.

Residents living nearby did not know who the car belonged to believed the owner lived nearby.

One resident living nearby also said that this was not the first time there had been a car fire in the area.

At 12.45am the crews were called out to Back Musgrave Road where a Ford Mondeo was on fire in the alley.

It is believed the car had been abandoned as neighbours reported that they had not seen the vehicle in the area before.

The fire started in the passenger seat before spreading to the rest of the vehicle.

Police are investigating both incidents and ask anyone with information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.