A FAMILY of five were recovering today after a suspected arson attack on their home.

The two adults and three children were woken by a smoke alarm at about 3am but could not escape because the fire was by the front door of their home at The Pastures, Beardwood, Blackburn.

They dialled 999 from a bedroom phone. Police on routine patrol in the area arrived moments later and smashed their way into the house to rescue the family.

They were all suffering smoke inhalation and were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. They were released later this morning.

The family was named locally as Julie and David Lee and their children Robert, 11, Jenny, eight, and Alistair, six. They refused to comment after returning to their home. A neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I was woken by the noise of police cars and saw what looked like a bottle or a firework still alight outside the house."

Station officer Kevin Gibson, of Blackburn fire service, said the fire in the hallway had filled the ground floor with smoke.

He said they got the fire under control within minutes but several rooms were smoke damaged.

Mr Gibson said they were investigating the possibility that something had been pushed through the letter box to start the fire.

He said: "They were very lucky, and it shows the importance of having smoke alarms."

He said a bottle was found near the house which may have been used to hold an accelerant such as petrol.

He said: "The family did the right thing by gathering in the front bedroom and phoning us.

"One of our operators spoke to Mrs Lee for three minutes until the police arrived, and gave her advice on putting a quilt under the door to stop fumes coming into the room and putting towels over their faces.

"It may seem like an age to wait before anybody arrives, but it's safer than trying to escape down the stairs and risking being overcome by smoke."