Pensioner tackles flat arson

Elizabeth Cameron put out the fire herself

An 83-year-old woman had to tackle a fire started by arsonists at her flat in a Derbyshire town.

Elizabeth Cameron was woken by a smoke alarm at 0130 GMT on Friday morning, when she discovered flames in the hallway of her property in the Cotmanhay area of Ilkeston.

Fire investigators say a net curtain had been set alight and pushed through the letterbox.

It is the ninth case of arson in the past two months on homes in the area and police are linking the attacks.

'Cat screaming'

Mrs Cameron managed to extinguish the flames by dousing them with a bucket of water.

She said: "I woke up this morning with the cat screaming and the fire alarm going off.

"I thought it was ordinary alarm clock going but I wondered why the cat was screaming.

"Then I happened to see a red light through the bedroom window."

Her daughter Susan Walsh was angry following the arson attack.

"My mother has lived here a long time and hasn't caused any bother to anybody she wouldn't hurt a fly.

"I think the person who has done this needs to be caught."