TWO caravans were destroyed after a suspected firework arson attack in Breightmet last night. 

The caravans, which were parked in the front garden of a house in Bailey Lane, set on fire shortly before 11.30pm - in an attack described as "like something you see on TV".

CCTV cameras attached to the house captured a man going through the front gates of the home, and setting both caravans on fire, before walking off.

Both caravans had 12kg gas bottles inside them, but neither of these were ignited. 

Tom Roberts was at home with his 15-year-old daughter Ellie and 17-year-old son Jake when the attack took place. They were not hurt in the blaze.

One of the caravans, an Avondale Rialto, belonged to Mr Roberts, while the other, a Swift Celebration, belonged to his friend.

Firefighters from Bolton North and Farnworth stations were at the scene for two hours tackling the blaze. 

Mr Roberts, an HGV driver, aged 46, said: "We were all asleep at the time and then Ellie ran into my room shouting 'the caravans are on fire'. 

"The flames were huge and we were conscious of the gas bottles in the caravans.

"When firefighters arrived we had to go into the back garden for our own safety.

"It looks deliberate. The guy has just lit one caravan on fire, walked over to the other one, lit that on fire and slowly walked off. We are really surprised by his reaction."

Mr Roberts added: "We don't even want to stay here anymore. This just makes you feel so unsafe."

Due to the high winds, Mr Roberts tied his front gate shut before he went to bed, but CCTV footage of the attack shows a man setting the rope on fire using what looks like a kitchen lighter.

The man is then seen walking over to Mr Roberts' Avondale Rialto and setting it on fire, before starting a second blaze in the Swift Celebration. 

Ellie Roberts, a pupil at Thornleigh Salesian College, said: "I didn't see anyone but I saw the flames. It was so surreal - it was something you see on TV. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing it. 

"I'm so glad the fire didn't spread, because if the fire brigade hadn't arrived here when they did, it could have spread to my bedroom."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We are treating this as arson and investigations are ongoing.

"We will be looking at CCTV footage from the area."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.