A TERRIFIED Horwich man says an arson attack on his home would have killed his ex-partner had he not left hospital the previous day.

An arsonist set fire to Jamie Holden's front door at 3am on Thursday morning with what police believe was an intent to endanger life.

Mr Holden should have been in hospital at the time of the blaze in Beatrice Mews but had discharged himself a day early — a decision he believes saved the life of his ex-partner Sharon, who has restricted mobility.

When the fire — which detectives are treating as arson with intent to endanger life — started, he was able to leap out of bed at the sound of the smoke alarm and put it out before it spread upstairs.

Mr Holden, who cares for his ex-partner at the flat they share, said he has no idea where they will both live now, with the front door destroyed and the flat left heavily smoke-logged.

Police believe this was a targeted attack and are reassuring residents that it was an isolated incident.

Mr Holden and his ex-partner, aged 46, were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by ambulance staff but did not need to be taken to hospital.

Mr Holden, aged 37, said: "She would be dead now if I hadn't come home.

"This is attempted murder for me. There's no way out other than that door.

"I had been in hospital and they told me to stay last night but I said 'no, I'll go home'. And thank God I did.

"She would never have woken up as she takes sleeping tablets.

"She is defenceless and would not have been able to put it out. It is just horrendous. Whoever has done it is scum."

Mr Holden said there must have been an accelerant added to his door to make the blaze spread quickly, adding that he thought a roll of wallpaper had been pushed up against the door to start the fire.

He added: "I just ran round looking for the key but it had spread too quickly. So I got some water and threw it over and managed to put it out.

"That door was the only way in or out. If Sharon had thrown herself out of the window, that would have probably killed her.

"I'm just so relieved she is ok. It was terrifying."

A police spokesman said: “Early indications are that the occupants have been in bed upstairs sleeping when they were woken by the smoke alarm.

"They discovered the door of the property had been set alight.

"The occupants were treated at the scene by ambulance staff for smoke inhalation.

"A potentially serious incident was averted but enquiries are ongoing to try and identify the offender.

"I would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident and we are doing everything we can to identify those responsible."

Fire service watch manager Karsten Boyle said: “The fire alarm alerted them in the early stages of the fire and gave them an opportunity to escape.

"In this case they also extinguished the fire but we would always say to get out of the property and inform the fire service.

“It was a very lucky escape for the pair because that was the only entrance and exit door to the property.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 8565761.