A FAMILY of five were forced to flee their home in the middle of the night after arsonists targeted a neighbouring property.

NHS support worker Maxine Mitchell, 37, of Arran Avenue, said the empty property was a constant danger to her family after becoming a magnet for anti social behaviour.

Wooden screening, used by the private landlord to hide offensive graffiti, was set alight by arsonists at 1.30am yesterday.

Mrs Mitchell’s husband Wiliam, 48, an agency care assistant, smelled smoke coming into the house and woke his wife and their children Zoe 13, Jade 16, and Darren 19, before it spread.

The three children were taken to their grandparents’ house at 2am, while Mr and Mrs Mitchell stayed in freezing temperatures, opening all their doors and windows to get rid of the smoke in their home.

The family have lived in the three-bedroom house in the Shadsworth area for eight years, but say they have recently considered moving..

Since the end-terraced property became empty six months ago, the Mitchell family have had to put up with ‘disgusting’ graffiti, smashed windows, arson and anti-social behavior.

The alarm was raised on Thursday when Mr Mitchell smelled smoke while watching television as the rest of the family slept.

Mrs Mitchell said: “He often works nights and if he had been out, we would have just slept through it.. We want to move but would never sell while that mess is next door.”

As firefighters approached the street in the early hours, youths were seen running out of the property. Effortsd to trace the house owner have so far failed.