A great grandmother who was targeted by a ‘cowardly’ arsonist says she can’t go back to her home of 60 years.
The 90-year-old managed to escape her home as a petrol-soaked rag was pushed through the letterbox and the door set alight during an early hours attack.
The nana, who uses a frame to help her walk, happened to be awake and raised the alarm.
Her grandson and nine-year-old nephew were both asleep upstairs but also managed to escape.
The grandson, 38, managed to put out the flames before the fire took hold.
All three were treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance crews.
“It doesn’t bare thinking about,” her granddaughter Danielle Fielding told the M.E.N.
“It could have been so much worse.”
Danielle’s nana has lived at the house on Broom Road, in Partington, for more than 60 years.
But when her husband died earlier this year she found it difficult to stay on her own.
As such, Danielle, her brother and sister have been taking it in turns to sleepover at the house ever since.
“Since my granddad died she doesn’t like being on her own and she’s on a waiting list to go into sheltered accommodation,” Danielle says.
“It was her last few weeks before she moved.”
Danielle - whose young daughters also stayed with their great grandmother only last week - says the whole ordeal has been terrifying.
“My brother and nephew were staying over and they all would have gone to bed early,” she says.
“My Nana sleeps downstairs and she’s up in the night a bit. She just happened to be awake at this time and was walking through the hall when the door caught alight.
“It went up really fast. She shouted up to my brother and my nephew jumped out of bed.
“My brother managed to put the fire out. But in the 60 seconds it took them to come downstairs the house was filling with smoke and my nephew was covered in black smoke.
“My Nana was just really in shock. She’s been very quiet today and doesn’t want to talk or think about it.”
The great grandmother of eight - who has lived in the house for more than 60 years - says she can’t return to her beloved family home after the terrifying incident.
Danielle says: “It’s our family home really. So it’s so upsetting that she’s had to leave like this.
“We just don’t know why the house was targeted. It’s completely baffled us all.
“We think it must be mistaken identity. I don’t understand how they could get it so wrong.”
Police are investigating after a petrol-soaked rag was pushed through the letterbox of the semi-detached property on Broom Road, in Partington.
Petrol was also poured on the front door and set alight at around 5.30am on Saturday (September 7) morning.
Officers have urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward.
Detective Constable Jane Naylor, of Greater Manchester Police’s Trafford Division, said: “This was a cowardly and senseless attack that could easily have led to loss of life,” she said.
“It’s unthinkable that someone would target a property in this way – let alone while a vulnerable elderly person and a child were inside.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact police.
“Did you see anything suspicious or have any information that can assist our enquires? If so, get in touch immediately.”
Information can be left with police on 0161 856 4081 or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
