The family was forced to flee their home following the incident at around 1am on Saturday, April 5, they have been temporarily rehoused while officers continue to investigate
Residents in a tranquil neighbourhood were left shaken by the sound of ‘explosions’ after a Bentley and a part of a house were ablaze in a suspected arson attack during the early hours.
Terrified families had to evacuate their homes on Sunny Brow Road, Middleton when the fire broke out at around 1am this Saturday, April 5. Photographs from the incident display a severely charred Bentley and considerable damage to the property’s roof and windows.
Greater Manchester Police is treating the incident as arson, initiating an inquiry in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). The affected family has since been provided alternative accommodation. A worrisomely startled neighbour recounted being jolted awake by three loud ‘bangs’.
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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, they asserted: “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 local mentioned CCTV footage caught a ‘flash’ following a car’s approach. Reflecting on previous incidents, they commented: “We’ve had things like that happen round here before, people having cars wrecked on their drive, but nothing this serious.”
A separate witness expressed: “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.”
Greater Manchester Police stated: “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.”
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service 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.
