A WOMAN'S life was saved by a passing taxi driver and a neighbour after an arsonist torched her home.

Julie Spencer was trapped in her house in Bolton after petrol was poured through the letterbox.

She raised the alarm by waving and screaming from a bedroom window as flames rose through the property.

Iqbal Hussain was passing at the time in his eight-seater minibus and stopped to help. He grabbed a fire extinguisher from his vehicle and doused the door of the house but then realised the fire has spread.

He then parked the minibus on the pavement directly under the window and a neighbour climbed onto to its roof to help Mrs Spencer, 53, through the bedroom window.

They lifted her on to the roof of the vehicle and to safety.

The incident happened at 10.30pm on Wednesday in Bowen Street, Heaton.

Detective Constable Martin Ashurst said: "This is a serious matter that could have ended much worse. We are determined to identify the culprit and request anyone with knowledge of the incident to get in touch.

"If you saw anything suspicious at the time of the attack or have any information at all, please get in touch."

Witnesses can call Astley Bridge CID on 0161 8565740 or the independent charity Crimstoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.