Family flee firework arson attack

A family-of-three had to be rescued from their burning house after it was set on fire in a firework arson attack.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the property in Belford Road, Sunderland, on Friday and removed a man and woman and their son.

The man, who was in his 40s, had to be treated for breathing in smoke.

Police said the arsonist broke a downstairs window and threw two lit fireworks into the building, but it was not badly damaged.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "This appears to be an isolated incident and investigations are on-going to try and trace who has done this."