A York family were lucky to escape with their lives when a burning newspaper was stuffed through their letter-box while they were sleeping.

Michelle Murphy, and her four-year-old son, Louis, who survived an arson attack on their home

Michelle Murphy, who has a four-year-old son, Louis, told the Evening Press how her partner, Charlie Robinson, raced downstairs to the hall and beat out the flames with his hands.

"By the time we got down the fire had already got a hold in the carpet. We were choking and our eyes were watering with the smoke," said Michelle.

"The firemen told me we had been very lucky because we have a net curtain hanging over the door and keep our coats nearby.

"They said the fire could easily have spread up them and into the electrics, which are just above the door, and then broken through into the bedroom floors. We would have been trapped upstairs and there are child-locks on the windows so I don't know how we'd have got out. We could have been killed for absolutely no reason at all."

The arson attack has horrified North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service who say lives were needlessly put at risk.

Fire service spokesman Terry Glover said they would be helping police with their investigation into the fire.

"This could have potentially been a tragedy," he said.

"The occupants of the flat were very lucky because the fire itself was cutting off one of their means of escape.

"I don't know what must go through people's minds when they do something like this, but it is an extremely dangerous act, which could cost someone their life."

York police later arrested a woman, who is now helping them with their inquiries.

The City of York Council housing department said it would also be looking into the matter, but had not been notified of the incident.

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