BUNGLING thieves set a house on fire after they tried to steal a car parked on the driveway.

Umba Mbumba and her two children, ten-year-old Edwina and Olivia (8) were forced to flee in their nightclothes in the middle of the night from their home in Holme Avenue, Brandlesholme, after flames from the vehicle spread to the kitchen.

The incident happened at around 4.15am on Saturday when Mrs Mbumba (38) was awoken by a loud noise.

"It was really loud, causing me to look out of the window, and I could see flames," she said.

"I thought it was my neighbour's house on fire at first, but then I realised it could be my kitchen.

"I woke up my kids and we managed to get out safely, although we did meet smoke coming up the stairs. It was only when we got outside that we saw it was the car on fire, which belongs to a neighbour.

"My children were a bit shocked by it all, but they've been really good and have helped to clean up the mess."

Firefighters put out the blaze which destroyed the Rover and damaged the rear of the house.

Bury fire station crew manager, Carl Bostock, said: "Fortunately, the family heard the noise of the car setting on fire and managed to run out of the house. They had a fire escape plan, and once they got out of the house, they went to a neighbour's across the road."

"The plan worked exactly as it should have done. The family could have been in danger because of the fire, but they did really well."

Police are investigating the incident.