THE life of an 83-year-old deaf woman was put at risk by arsonists who torched a car next to her home in Walmersley early on Monday (July 9).

The firebugs smashed the rear window of a Vauxhall Astra and then set fire to the vehicle which was parked under a wooden carport in Springside Road.

The house belonged to the pensioner, who had to be woken by firefighters as they tackled the blaze outside. The car belonged to a neighbour.

A spokesman for Bury fire brigade said that, as a result of the pensioner's hearing disability, it took longer to wake her.

He said: "She was soundly asleep when the fire started. If not for the actions of a neighbour, who alerted us to the fire, then it could have had tragic consequences."

The car suffered minor damage as a result of the attack at 3am yesterday and only a small amount of damage was caused to the carport's plastic roof.

Police want anyone who may have seen the culprits to contact them on 856 8150.