POLICE fear they may be hunting a serial fire starter after a house was set ablaze - the seventh arson attack in two weeks in the same area.

The attack yesterday follows an early morning fire rampage through the South Bank area of York in which three cars were torched.

This followed an arson spree two days before that in which a car, a garage, and rubbish outside a house were set alight.

Sergeant Keith Morrison said: "It is quite worrying that there is somebody out there doing this. The sooner we get hold of them the better.

"The last thing we want is anybody getting injured."

In the latest attack, a woman from Thorpe Street, who did not want to be named, described how her son smelt smoke at 5am and discovered the front door ablaze.

Returning from a night out at 3am, the 20-year-old found graffiti saying 'We will get you' and 'We will be back' daubed, in what police believe was mascara, on the door and windows of his home.

After a nightcap with a neighbour to steady his nerves he went home - just before the arsonists struck.

"He had gone to the toilet and then smelled smoke," his mother said.

"He was lucky because if he had gone up to bed he would probably not have been alerted."

The woman was on holiday when she received a frantic call from her son's friend. Her sister's car was also torched in nearby Nunthorpe Gardens during the fire spree last week.

She said: "I was shocked. I can't even work out why somebody would do it. It used to be a nice safe area to live in, but it is not like that any more. It is changing.

"I have reached a point now where I really wonder should we get out. I do not feel safe when I go out or when I'm in the house."

A fire crew attended the scene and said the house had suffered extensive smoke and heat damage.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said paramedics had taken the 20-year-old man, who was suffering from smoke inhalation, to York Hospital .

Local councillor Dave Merrett said people were very worried about the attacks.

He said: "I'm extremely concerned about it.

"I've spoken to the police ward manager about the issue and I know they're making every effort to catch the person involved.

"Clearly any help from members of the public in trying to identify people in the area who might be involved would be extremely helpful." Sgt Morrison said: "If people see anything suspicious they should ring us straight away and we will look into it.

"We do not want to start making people paranoid, but residents are going to notice things out of place."

"We are appealing for members of the public to come forward and call us on 0845 6060247."

Updated: 13:41 Monday, October 17, 2005