INVESTIGATIONS are under way after arsonists attacked a home in Ellesmere Port in the early hours of Good Friday.
Quick-thinking neighbours came to the rescue of the two adults and two children in the house on Avondale after the flames and thick smoke trapped them upstairs.
The fire had started at the front door and porch and had spread to the bottom of the stairs, blocking their exit.
The family had to crawl out of an upstairs window on to the flat roof of their garage to escape the intense heat.
Luckily the neighbours had been alerted and grabbed a ladder from their property and leant them against the building to allow them to escape.
Two fire engines from Ellesmere Port and one from Chester arrived at the house to find the front door and porch well alight.
The fire crews extinguished the blaze and then had to use a positive pressure ventilation fan to try and clear the smoke.
Police believe the fire was started deliberately.
Cheshire police spokeswoman Shelley Williams said: “It’s believed something was placed through the letter box and ignited. An investigation is under way.”
Police ask anyone with information to call 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.
