A mum-of-five has described the horrifying moment a lit firework was pushed through the letterbox of her home by yobs and then exploded in the hallway.
Karleen Hogan was tidying up at her home in Marsden Road, Halewood , in the early hours of Saturday when she heard a "hissing" noise by the front door.
When she realised it was a firework, she screamed at her children - who were in bed - to stay upstairs as there was a firework in the house.
The mum then shut the living-room door to escape the blast made by the powerful rocket.
As the fire began to take hold in the hallway, two of the three children, aged 17 and 12, who were inside managed to get out of the house with their mum.
However Karleen's 17-year-old son realised when he got outside that his 11-year-old little brother was missing.
Karleen, 44, said: "The rocket flew into my hall and went off.
"It went straight into the cupboard in the hall, where the fuse box is and where there was a whole load of flammable stuff.
"Two of my kids ran out of the house from upstairs, but when my 17-year-old son realised his little brother was still upstairs, he ran back inside the house to get him out.
"There was a second firework lodged in the letterbox which wasn't ignited."
She added: "I'm absolutely devastated. My head's all over the place right now.
"I've no idea why anyone would do something like this.
They might as well have poured petrol through my letterbox and set fire to it.
"It was 1.45am and if I'd been in bed I don't think we'd have got out of that house alive."
Unfortunately, one of the family's pet cats died in the blaze from the effects of smoke.
While Karleen is staying at her mum's house, her children are scattered around the homes of friends and relatives.
She said: "We've lost everything. I've literally just got what I'm standing up in.
"I'm so grateful to everyone who's come forward with offers of help since this happened."
Firefighters worked through the night to tackle the house fire at the end-of-terrace property, which was left gutted by the blaze.
Merseyside police are now conducting their own investigation into the incident.
Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin said at the time: "This was a completely reckless act which has caused extensive damage to a home and could have had tragic consequences.
"A scene remains in place while an investigation is carried out and I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident, any suspicious behaviour in the area or has any CCTV or dashcam footage to please get in touch."
Anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 quoting ref. 19100606400 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
