A FORMER bank manager cleared of setting fire to a house while his family slept admitted today: "I have been to hell and back."

Glenn Hunt spoke of his relief after a Bolton Crown Court jury, who deliberated for just 15 minutes, cleared him of two charges of arson.

Father-of-two Mr Hunt walked free from court following a five-day trial after he denied trying to burn down his £140,000 luxury Georgian style house in Ridgmont Close, Horwich.

And speaking publically for the first time after his acquittal the 46-year-old said he had been under huge stress since the charges were brought after the fire last May at his detached home.

He said: "It has been a very difficult period of time for us all and I am glad it is in the past.

"My wife, my children and myself are very grateful to our families, friends and neighbours for their support, generosity and kindness throughout it all.

"I have been to hell and back. I'm glad just to be back with my family."

Mr Hunt is a former manager of a NatWest bank at UMIST, Manchester, before taking voluntary redundancy in 1995 and becoming a mortgage adviser.

At the time of the house blaze on May 24 last year Mr Hunt told the court he had fallen asleep downstairs while watching a film but was woken by a loud bang and was then confonted by a wall of black smoke.

Upstairs, his wife Jennifer, a headteacher at St Thomas Chequerbent CE primary school in Westhoughton, who had been woken up, ensured their two children were safe.

His teenage son Gareth and neighbours had used a ladder and rock to smash their way through windows and at a second attempt he managed to escape the house blaze.

After releasing a statement to the BEN Mr Hunt refused to be drawn further on his plans for the future and if he and his family will remain in Bolton.

A police spokesman today said the investigation into the fire at Mr Hunt's home is now "closed".