A WOMAN and her seven-year-old daughter had a lucky escape after arsonists tried to wreck their Farnworth home early today.

The pair were staying with relatives when their semi-detached council house in Ramsay Avenue, Farnworth was attacked just before 1am.

A small kitchen window was broken and something pushed through, which set fire to a pile of clothes behind the door.

The fire service were alerted by council workmen who had been called to board up a window in a nearby property and heard the smoke alarm going off in the house.

Firemen had to break down the back door to get into the kitchen and tackle the flames, which badly damaged the kitchen and caused smoke damage to the rest of the house.

Police are investigating the incident.