A man arrested after a house was torched while two elderly sisters were sleeping inside has been released under investigation.
Two men were said to have been seen attempting to break into the property on Goldenhill Avenue, Clayton, last Wednesday morning (August 28).
They were seen to be pouring an accelerant inside before setting the kitchen on fire.
The sisters inside, aged 88 and 91, were rescued by police officers and neighbours.
They were both carried to safety while the fire was extinguished.
The women were taken to hospital to be checked over after breathing in smoke and have since been released.
A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
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He has since been released under investigation.
Police continue to investigate and are appealing for anyone with further information to get in touch.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "The 91-year-old lady has been in hospital and only got back a couple of weeks ago.
"Her sister is staying with her at the minute who is 88. The two ladies were in bed when the fire started and the police couldn’t get in at first.
"My son heard banging on the wall upstairs and the neighbours ran round. We could hear them shouting ‘get me out, get me out’.
"My partner had to smash a window to get in the kitchen, but it looked like another small window was already smashed.
"There was just so much black smoke. They were both bare foot and we took them in, they went to hospital for checks.
"It’s just scary knowing that something can happen like that.”
Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 3101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
