Police are hunting arsonists who trapped a mother and her young son in a burning home.

Hayley Abbott had been asleep upstairs with five-year-old Henry when she was woken by smoke at the house in Blenheim Place, Thackley, Bradford.

The 22-year-old managed to grab her son and shouted for help from a bedroom window.

Her uncle, Christopher Clapham, who lives opposite, said his niece had the presence of mind to dial 999.

Neighbour Nathan Miles-Davies heard the shouting and jumped out of bed to see Miss Abbott’s front door on fire just after midnight yesterday. He ran downstairs to get water and put the blaze out.

His partner, Mags D’Eath, said: “He thought someone was outside shouting his name but it turned out the mum was shouting her friend’s name, Jason, who also lives in the house.

“When I went out you could see the mum and little boy at the window, the little boy was an absolute trooper, a little soldier. They must have been terrified but he stayed really calm.

“Nathan, who used to be a children’s entertainer, was doing his best to keep talking to him.”

She said fire crews were on the scene in seconds.

Mr Clapham said: “As I got there the fire brigade had already arrived and they were trying to knock the door down with a big iron bar.

“When they brought the two of them out I got hold off Henry and then they both had to go in ambulances. They were distraught.

“Just five more minutes and they could have died. Nathan and those firemen did a tremendous job, without them it would have been disastrous.”

It is believed that Miss Abbot’s friend escaped by jumping through a window at the back of the property and had run round as Mr Miles-Davies arrived with water to help.

Watch manager Paul Metheringham, of Idle Fire Station, said although the fire was out when they arrived, the woman and child had been trapped by the smoke.

The two were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for a check-up.

Anyone with any information about the arson attack should contact Airedale and North Bradford CID on 0845 6060606.