Car torched in suspected arson attack in Ramsbottom

Louise Newport and her son Steffan were asleep at their house in Edgar Street, Ramsbottom, when they heard a bang, later realising it was a neighbour warning them that a bin outside their front door had been set on fire.

Flames then spread to the car owned by Mrs Newport, who witnessed the ferocity of the blaze when she opened the front door of her house at about 2am on Tuesday January 27.

The 48-year-old said: "I heard a bang, so I came downstairs and went out of the front door and saw an orange glow. I was in a bit of a daze, and I was shocked when I realised it was a fire.

"I could feel the heat as soon as I opened the door, so I closed it straight away."

Neighbours had called the fire brigade, and the police officers arrived soon afterwards.

The family realised that the bin had been moved from where it is usually placed, and was instead next to Mrs Newport's Renault Clio. The car was written off in the blaze and the front door of their house was also singed.

Mrs Newport has now been left without transport and is confined to the house.

Steffan, who is studying psychology and criminology at Leeds Beckett University, was getting ready to go back to Leeds for the new term, but stayed longer than planned to support his mother.

The 20-year-old said: "It is a big shock. You don't expect things like that to happen round here in Ramsbottom. I can't think of any reason why someone would want to do this, we don't have any problems with anyone.

"We were lucky that the car didn't explode, because it has a tank full of fuel."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the incident was being treated as arson.

He said: "We were called to a report of a bin deliberately being set on fire, which spread to a nearby vehicle, which is being treated as an arson attack."

"No arrests have currently been made, and inquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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