Family’s horror as house and Bentley suddenly go up in flames in middle of the night after ‘arson attack’
NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their horror after hearing ‘explosions’ as a Bentley and part of a home went up in flames in a suspected early hours arson attack.
A family was forced to flee the house on Sunny Brow Road in Middleton following the incident at around 1am this morning.
Images taken from the street show a badly damaged Bentley.
Part of the roof of the home was destroyed and windows were broken.
Greater Manchester Police said incident is being treated as arson attack.
A joint investigation with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has been launched.
The family has been temporarily rehoused.
One terrified neighbour spoke of being woken by three ‘bangs’.
They told the Manchester Evening News: “I heard explosions, that’s what got me up.
“I thought it was a car being broken into, but then I saw the smoke and the flames which was a bit scary.
“It’s a nasty shock, especially in this area, it’s quiet. We’re a close neighbourhood here.”
Another neighbour said CCTV showed a ‘flash’ after a car was seen approaching.
They said: “We’ve had things like that happen round here before, people having cars wrecked on their drive, but nothing this serious.”
Another person said: “We got a call from our neighbour just after 1am.
“She asked us to have a look outside the front of our house and that’s when we saw the flames.
“We just saw the flames and phoned the fire brigade.
“It’s frightening, isn’t it? It’s not what you expect. It’s just a horrible thing to do to somebody.”
A GMP spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a fire at Sunny Brow Road in Middleton at around 1am this morning.
It is believed the fire started in a bin and spread to a nearby vehicle, and is being treated as arson.
“A family has been temporarily rehoused while officers from CID and the fire service carry out an investigation into how the fire started. Anyone with any information is asked to contact us.”
A GMFRS spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1.05am on Saturday 5 April, three fire engines from Heywood, Chadderton and Whitefield fire stations attended a fire involving a house and one vehicle on Sunny Brow Road, Middleton.
“Crews arrived quickly and used two hose reel jets, breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera to extinguish the fire.
“Firefighters made the area safe before departing after approximately one hour and twenty minutes at the scene.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Greater Manchester Police quoting log 170-050425.
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