Mum and son lucky to escape after arsonists torch car outside home in Littleborough

Detectives investigating a deliberate car fire in Rochdale have released CCTV footage and the dramatic 999 call made by the victim, as they renew appeals for information.

Emergency services were called to Cleggswood Avenue in Littleborough at around 1.15am on Saturday 6th September, following reports that a vehicle parked on a driveway had been set alight.

Asleep inside at the time wer Luanne Gill and her 10-year-old son. They were awoken by the car's intruder alarm and managed to escape to safety, unharmed. She said: "I checked the Ring Doorbell footage and that's when I saw that there were two men on the drive. I panicked, ran to the bedroom window and saw that the car was on fire."

"I had my little boy at the side of me and I was just looking at my house, setting on fire. I was just thinking - am I going to have a home at the end of the night? What's going to happen?

"We're always on edge now. If a car alarm goes off, or if fireworks are going off, we're on pins. If I hear a car door outside, I go to the window because we can't relax. It doesn't feel like our home anymore."

Police say the offenders arrived in what's believed to be a Peugeot 3008, manufactured between 2008 and 2016. Two individuals got out, while at least one other remained in the vehicle.

The pair approached the victim’s car, smashed a window, and used an accelerant to ignite the interior. The blaze caused extensive damage to the vehicle and scorched the front of the property, though the fire luckily did not spread any further.

The suspects then fled towards Hollingworth Road, with officers believing they may have travelled on towards West Yorkshire or Lancashire.

Police say the attack was targeted and that there is no wider risk to the public.

Luanne continued: "We just don't feel safe. They might never come back but what they've done has put that fear into us now. We didn't think anyone would come in the first place, so what's stopping them? It's that constant fear of not knowing if I'm going to wake up in the morning and see my car on fire again."

A 42‑year‑old man was arrested in the days that followed on suspicion of stalking and conspiracy to commit arson. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Investigators have now released the footage and audio to highlight the “horrific” impact of the attack and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Constable Mel Jeffery, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said the 999 call was made public to show “the sheer terror involved in such a vile attack.”

She added: “We have seen these sorts of attacks across the country and in Greater Manchester in recent years, resulting in serious injuries and deaths. We are very fortunate that we are not talking about more serious consequences here.

“While we have made an arrest and carried out extensive enquiries since September, we still need further information to progress the investigation. This could be the smallest detail or something you may have seen or overheard. We would greatly appreciate people getting in touch, either directly or anonymously.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via the Live Chat function at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 205 of 06/09/25.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.