A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stalking and conspiracy to commit arson after a mum and her young child were forced to flee their house in Littleborough, Greater Manchester, due to a fire
A mum and her young child were forced to flee their home with their pets after their car was set on fire and the blaze spread to the front of the house in a “deliberate attack”, said police.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police responded to reports of a vehicle fire in Cleggswood Avenue, Littleborough, Greater Manchester, at around 1.15am on September 6. The mother and child were asleep when the car was set alight and were alerted to danger by the vehicle’s alarm, according to GMP.
A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stalking and conspiracy to commit arson. He was bailed pending further inquiries. The force has released an image of a car detectives would like to identify, and said they want to speak to its owner or occupants.
The vehicle is said to have come from the direction of Hollingworth Road and left the same way. It is believed it could have travelled to Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
DC Mel Jeffery, of the force’s Rochdale division, said the trauma is “unimaginable” for the mum and her child who were woken by their car’s alarm and found the house on fire in what is believed to have been a targeted attack.
“This was a terrifying and deliberate attack that could have ended in tragedy,” said DC Jeffery. “A mother and her young child were asleep in their home when their car was set alight on the driveway, just outside the front door.
“The flames quickly spread to the front of the house, and it was only thanks to the car’s alarm that they were able to escape safely with their pets. The trauma they’ve experienced is unimaginable. They are safe, but shaken and deeply affected by what happened.
“We believe this was a targeted incident, and while there is no wider threat to the public, we are determined to find those responsible.”
DC Jeffery has appealed to the public for information and for anyone who may have footage from around the time of the incident on September 6 to come forward.
“I’m urging anyone who lives or works in the area to check their CCTV, doorbell footage, or dashcam recordings from around the time of the incident on September 6. Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece we need,” said DC Jeffery.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police via 101 or their live chat service at Home, quoting log 205 of 06/09/25, or anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.