AN investigation has been launched after a suspected arson attack at a house in Bury.

Firefighters were called to Threshfield Close after neighbours spotted a fire at the front door of the house.

The fire service said that someone had stuffed a newspaper into the letterbox at the house and set it alight.

Neighbours spotted the fire and helped to put it out before fire crews from Whitefield, Heywood and Ramsbottom stations arrived, at about 10.55pm last night.

The female owner of the house, aged in her mid 20s, and her two children, boys aged under 10, were in the house at the time but were not seriously injured.

The children were asleep at the time, and the woman was later taken to hospital as a precaution after suffering from smoke inhalation.

A police spokesman said investigations are ongoing, and that the incident is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life.