A family has been left with nothing after their home was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
The fire service was called to the blaze on Bordale Avenue, Moston, shortly after 8pm last night.
They found a terraced home engulfed in flames with the front window blown out and a neighbouring property also partly alight.
The Manchester Evening News understands a family of five live in the property.
Mum, dad, a 15-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were all home at the time and escaped unharmed.
An older son was not home, it is believed.
Police say they believe the fire was started deliberately and confirmed they have launched a joint arson investigation with the fire service.
A neighbour described hearing a 'pop, pop, pop' sound then looked out of her front door and saw the fire.
"I looked out and the front of the house was engulfed," she told the M.E.N.
"Dad and daughter and the youngest son had vacated the property.
"Mum was still in the kitchen unaware.
"I think she was cooking dinner and the others were just watching TV [when the fire started].
"Dad ran back in to get her and thankfully they all got out ok.
"It went up in pretty much ten minutes.
"Next door's porch caught fire as well, I was surprised at how quickly it burned."
A large crowd of neighbours quickly gathered at the scene to offer help and firefighters arrived within minutes.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire Service said last night that four fire engines were dispatched and crews found the house 'well alight'.
After putting out the flames, firefighters concentrated on "salvaging and clearing debris", the spokesperson added.
This morning a cordon remained in place around the house as police and fire investigators examined the scene.
The blaze has caused extensive damage, with a large pile of burnt belongings left in the front garden, windows blackened and the plastic guttering melted.
"Mum was in real distress," said the neighbour.
"Dad was shouting 'I've lost everything'.
"They're hard working people, he's a security guard working nights and she works in a nursing home, I think."
"Whoever has done this, it's not just the people in that house they could have killed, it's others as well.
"The family next door have young kids and another on the way.
"It's shocking."
