NEIGHBOURS in a quiet Whitefield street have been left frightened after two cars were targeted in a suspected arson attack.

Fire crews from Whitefield were called to Woodlands Avenue at about 2am where two cars had been set alight outside separate houses.

A silver Audi A4 and a black Kia Carens were in flames when firefighters arrived.

Cora and Allan Fielding, who have lived at their home in Woodlands Avenue for 35 years, were asleep when the fires broke out.

Mrs Fielding, who’s Kia Carens was destroyed in the attack, said: “My neighbour’s daughter actually saw the person setting fire to our cars.

“It was extremely frightening to wake up to our cars in flames. Our house phone wouldn’t stop ringing and there was frantic knocking at the door which woke us up.

“If it wasn’t for my neighbour’s dog barking when her car was alight, we would have probably slept through it and it could have been fatal.

“When I came outside, the flames from the front of opposite’s car were as high as the upstairs window, it was extremely frightening to see.

“At the end of the day, no one has lost their life and it’s only a car.”

The couple paid £250 for an MOT and new brake pads on their car just two days before the fire.

Mr Fielding, a retired builder added: “It was a beautiful car and now it’s completely written off.

“Firefighters pulled out rags covered in petrol which had been stuffed inside the wheels.

“It’s absolutely shocking that someone could do this without any cares.”

Neighbours rushed to the aid of both families offering cups of tea.

Mrs Fielding said: “It was like being back in the war, everyone was great offering us cups of tea and making sure we were okay.

“We’ve had lots of neighbours popping round since, asking if we need anything from the supermarket.

“It just shows how good our neighbours our in this little close.”

Crew manager Nigel Williams said: “Thanks to the swift intervention of the fire service we were able to prevent the fire from spreading to any properties.

“Both cars were parked on drives about four houses apart however it's lucky this wasn't more serious.”

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the cause of the fire.