TWO women suffered suspected broken arms and legs after they jumped from a first-floor flat when a 30th birthday party was interrupted by alleged arson attack in Walkden.

The women were found on grass outside the flats in Fernside Grove after they had panicked on realised there was a fire.

There were 15 people inside the flat at the time that two wheelie bins were pushed up to the outside door of the block and set alight.

Mike Wilding, watch manager at Farnworth Fire Station, urged people not to panic in the event of the “frightening experience” of a fire.

Crews from Farnworth and Agecroft attended at about 5.30am on September 13, after people inside noticed smoke coming up the stairs after hearing the smoke alarm.

The women, aged 28 and 34, were taken to hospital with suspected broken arms and legs. Nobody else were seriously hurt in the blaze.

A joint investigation has been launched by the fire service and police into the suspected arson attack.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but only after it had caused significant damage to the door and smoke damage to the staircase.

Mr Wilding said: "We arrived at the address and found two wheelie bins on fire outside the door of the flat that had spread to the plastic door causing it to melt and the glass to fall out.

"There had been a party going on in the flat when the group heard the smoke alarm going off and noticed there was a fire outside.

"Two women panicked when they realised there was a fire and jumped out of the window onto the grass.

"We know having a fire can be a frightening experience but we ask people who don't have a clear escape route, like in this incident, to call us, close the doors and wait for firefighters to arrive."

Det Con Paul Davies, from Salford, said: "Luckily all the people inside managed to escape before the fire took hold.

“If they had not been disturbed this fire could have had fatal consequences.

"We have seen in the past the tragedy caused by wheelie bin fires — people have lost their lives and families devastated — so it is absolutely vital we find the offenders.

"We do not know why this home was targeted but clearly we need to find the person or persons responsible so we can help the victims make sense of what has happened.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "My mum lives here and woke up at about 5am hearing shouting and she could see the smoke. 

"It is disgusting because he is no trouble in that flat, he is a nice guy.

"I've no idea why anyone would do something like this."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5097 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.