A young mum has told of how she grabbed her two babies before fleeing a fire in her top floor flat in a shocking suspected arson attack.
The mum, who was asleep in the flat along with her partner, two young children and parents, was woken by the sound of alarms as smoke poured in through the walls.
She told of how she grabbed her 10 week old and 21 month old children before rushing to escape the inferno shortly after 6am on Thursday.
The family has now been left homeless and have lost practically all their belongings in the fire.
She told the ECHO: "My entire family could have been killed it if it wasn't for the fire alarms that woke us up when they did.
"I have two young children, one is just 10 weeks old. Thank god we were able to get out when we did before the whole flat caught fire.
"There was smoke coming through the walls and the ceiling. It was terrifying.
"We grabbed the babies and ran out through the smoke and down the stairs. It was horrible. We managed to get outside just as the firefighters arrived.
"We've lost everything. We've been told that nothing in the house is safe. At the moment we are homeless because the flat is ruined."
Firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats on Lister Drive in Tuebrook at 6.15am on Thursday, where a top floor flat was ablaze.
Police have now confirmed that they are treating the fire as a deliberate act, and have launched a joint investigation with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.
A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life and assault.
Merseyside Police also said that a 43 year-old man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Police attended the scene of the fire this morning to set up a cordon around Lister Drive while emergency services worked.
The force was said it was treating the fire as 'suspected malicious ignition' and it is investigating alongside the fire service.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "An investigation is underway following reports of a fire in Tuebrook this morning, Thursday 28th May.
"Emergency services were called at 6.30am to reports of a fire in a flat on Lister Driver. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire an Rescue Service but is currently being treated as suspected malicious ignition.
"A 43 year-old man has been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
"A 57 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life and s47 assault.
"An investigation is underway and house-to-house and CCTV enquiries have been carried out in the local area.
"Anyone who has information is asked to DM @MerPolC or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 11 quoting reference 20000307088."
