A COUPLE have spoken of their shock after their car was “petrol-bombed” right outside their front door.

The couple from Wasdale Avenue, Breightmet had been watching TV at about 9.30pm when they heard glass shattering and saw a figure with hammer break the window of their two-seater, silver, Land Rover Freelander.

A moment later their car was engulfed in flames.

The man who did not wish to be identified, said: “They had a hammer in their hand, they went through the side window of the Land Rover and dropped a petrol bomb in.

“The side windows just exploded. I have never seen anything quite like it.”

He said he saw two people with their hoods up run away from their burning vehicle.

His wife said: “It was shocking. It went up in such a blaze.

“What’s worrying is that it happened. It’s not so much the car. that’s just a car, but that people should think that that is a way to behave.”

 

Despite their own car going up in flames the couple’s first thought was for their neighbour’s caravan which was parked next to their burning car.

The man said he got his neighbour and helped him move it and alerted other neighbours who moved their cars quickly.

He said: “When I went out and saw it I thought ‘forget it, there’s no way I can go near that’.

“We waited for the fire brigade. They didn’t take long.”

Raising a smile he added: “They didn’t leave much of the car but they were very good.

“If it had been someone’s pride and joy and worth £10,000 or £15,000 they would have climbed in and tried to save it and someone could get killed.”

Police officers also attended the scene on Sunday, August 26.

The couple had been advised by their insurer not to move the car but they were worried about the children who live in their street going too near it. They had been advised by police not to touch the car as the material used to put out car fires by the fire service was corrosive.

The couple received plenty of support from their neighbours in Wasdale Street.

The man said: “They all came out and offered to help. One knocked on the door the next morning saying, ‘is there anything you want, can we do shopping for you?’

“They’ve all been good.”

The pair remained upbeat despite their ordeal but were sorry to see their “old friend” go.

The man said: “It was a cracking motor, it took us to the South of France, it’s was a bit of an old friend. We knew its idiosyncrasies.”

The couple hope that someone may have seen something on the night which will help the police with their investigation.

Those with information can call Greater Manchester Police on 101 or call charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.