A WOMAN and her son have been forced out of their home after an arson attack melted the front of their house.

Nichola Gray, of Wakefield Road, Smithies, was woken up by a loud bang at around 2am last Wednesday.

When she looked out of the window, she discovered her car had been set alight, and she immediately fled the house.

“I saw that my car was on fire and I knew immediately I had to get out the house,” she said.

“My son was asleep in the other room so I woke him up and we went downstairs.

“It was scary when we reached the bottom of the stairs as our stairs are opposite the front door and you could see the intensity of the flames.”

The pair went outside where they were met by a passer by who had contacted the fire brigade. But the flames reached the house, melting the front porch and shattering the windows.

The damage has forced Nichola and her son Callum, ten, out of their home while they wait for the damage to be repaired.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers believe that persons unknown set a car alight, causing damage to the vehicle and a nearby property. Nobody is reported to have been injured and enquiries are ongoing.”