A CAR was destroyed after being set on fire in a suspected arson attack.

Firefighters were called to Manchester Road East in Little Hulton at 1.30am this morning after reports a green Fiat Punto was ablaze.

The owner of the car, which was parked on a back street parallel to the main road, and his mother had called the emergency services after hearing banging and seeing the flames.

A crew from Farnworth station managed to put out the blaze and stop it spreading to nearby buildings but the car was destroyed.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated, but firefighters believe it was started deliberately. Police have been informed.