A PENSIONER faces a big repair bill and fears for her safety after arsonists set fire to a caravan yards from her house.

Margaret Kay, aged 63, has lived at the same terraced house in Great Lever all her life.

But after more than 60 years of quiet life in Settle Street, her peace was shattered when the fire broke out.

Someone set fire to a caravan which was being stored in her back yard, damaging the house and shattering her windows.

Miss Kay, who suffers from angina and asthma, has been left with a bill to repair her home and is worried about her safety.

"I nearly collapsed when I saw what was happening," she said.

"I have lived here all my life and have never known anything like this. It's disgraceful."

Miss Kay was talking to a neighbour across from her home when she saw smoke rising from behind the property.

She ran to the back of the house and saw her niece's caravan ablaze.

There was smoke billowing above the rooftop and the kitchen window was on fire. The caravan including a fridge and gas cooker inside was wrecked.

The heat from the flames also melted a drain pipe and damaged all the back windows and the frames.

Miss Kay said: "My father worked and worked to be able to afford to buy this house and I have never had any trouble here before. I don't want to go into one of those sheltered housing places, I want to stay here."

Miss Kay, who is retired, does not have building insurance, but is hopeful she will be able to get help to pay £1,200 to repair the damage to her home.

The incident happened at about 1.45pm last Thursday.

Witnesses claim they saw a young boy set fire to a curtain in the caravan and the information has been passed on to the police.

Anyone with further information should contact police on 0161 872 5050.