A FAMILY of five were forced to make a daring escape from their Heaton home after an arson attack in the early hours of this morning.

It is believed that an offender poured petrol over the front door of the house in Jedburgh Avenue before setting it alight at about 2.30am.

The family members, including a three-year-old boy, had to exit the house via a first floor window at the back of the property.

Police have now launched an investigation and are following a number of lines of inquiry as to the motive behind the attack.

One member of the family was awoken by a smoke alarm and, after realising he could not get out of the front door, jumped out of a first floor window at the back of the house before the rest of the family were lowered to safety.

Firefighters also entered the house and rescued a dog from inside.

It is thought that a woman in her fifties lives in the house and her son, daughter and her fiance were staying with her along with her three-year-old grandson.

All five family members were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where they were treated for shock and smoke inhilation.

Fire crews from Bolton Central and Bolton North arrived on the scene as the blaze was starting to take hold of the property and acted swiftly to stop it spreading to the rest of the house and to neighbouring properties.

22-year-old Natasha Hamer-Livesey and her mother Lynn Hamer, aged 52 live opposite the house and have been friends with the family for many years.

As some members of the family were taken to hospital by ambulance, the neighbours escorted the remaining members by car.

Natasha said she could not understand why anyone would want to harm the family in question.

She said: "We have been friends with them for a long time, I have lived here all my life and grew up with them, they are a nice family and it doesn't make sense.

"I came out as the flames were fully going, I have never seen anything like it before, they were vicious flames covering the front door, it is disgusting that someone has done this.

"It is really fortunate that the rest of the family were there, normally on Friday nights the grandma looks after her three-year-old grandson there, and if it had just been them it could have been a lot worse.

Her mother Lynn said: "We took them to hospital and they were extremely shaken up, they just can't understand why anyone would want to do this, especially before Christmas,I don't think they feel safe here."

Natasha also praised the quick work of the fire service who she said "an amazing job" to put out the flames before they took hold.

Watch manager at Bolton Central station Tony McKenna also praised the work of the crews, he said: "I would like to thank the crews involved for their professionalism and rapid intervention which undoubtedly prevented the fire spreading."

He also pointed out the key role that a working smoke alarm played in the escape of the family.

He said: "It just goes to show how vital it is to have a working smoke alarm because without it, there is no doubt this situation would have been a lot worse, it has literally saved the lives of this family.

"It is also crucial that people have escape plans like this family did in case these situations arise."

Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation into the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

Police are now hunting the arsonist and want anyone with information to get in touch.

Detective Sergeant Rob Parker, said: “We believe an accelerant was used to start this fire, that could very easily have killed all inside, had they not been alerted by their smoke alarm and managed to escape.

“To be woken up to find a fire raging at your front door must have been absolutely terrifying for everyone involved and we need to find the person responsible.

“If anyone saw anything or knows who did this I would urge them to get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5761, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.