Mother and child flee Rochdale arson attack

A mother and her young child managed to escape a “terrifying and deliberate” arson attack at their home after a car alarm sounded on the driveway, police have said.

A car had been set alight with the flames spreading to the front of the property on Cleggswood Avenue in Littleborough, Rochdale, at 01:15 BST on 6 September, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stalking and conspiracy to commit arson and has since been released on bail pending further investigation.

The force has issued a fresh appeal and released CCTV images of a car believed to be linked to the incident, which detectives want to trace the driver or owner of.

GMP said the mother and child were able to escape uninjured with their pets after their vehicle’s alarm sounded as it burned.

Det Con Mel Jeffery said: “This was a terrifying and deliberate attack that could have ended in tragedy.

“The trauma they’ve experienced is unimaginable. They are safe, but shaken and deeply affected by what happened.”

Detectives believe the offender travelled in a car from the Hollingworth Road direction and left the same way.

Det Con Jeffrey urged anyone with CCTV or dashboard cameras in the area at the time of the attack to check their footage.