POLICE are investigating two arson attacks in which members of the same family were deliberately targeted.

Single mother-of-three Lisa Hunter, who lives in Teesdale Walk, Shildon, County Durham, was targeted by arsonists on Thursday morning, ten days after her mother, Avril, who lives in nearby Coronation Avenue, suffered a similar attack at her home.

At 3am on Thursday, Miss Hunter was woken by her smoke alarm after a flammable substance was sprayed through her letterbox and set alight.

The area around her front door was on fire and flames were spreading towards the staircase.

Miss Hunter, 25, woke her three children, a boy aged seven and two girls aged three and two, then rang her father and the fire brigade. Her father extinguished the flames before the fire brigade arrived.

She said: "I am really pleased I have a fire alarm, which woke me up. I went downstairs and the area near my front door was alight, I was really scared.

"I took my kids straight outside as we were all a bit shocked."

No one was hurt, but serious damage was caused to the front door, carpet, walls and a pushchair.

Lisa's mother, Avril Hunter, 53, said she had also been targeted. She said: "Petrol had been sprayed through our door recently and my husband managed to put it out. We also found a bottle of petrol left on the doorstep.

"We just cannot understand why somebody would target us."

Detective Sergeant Mark Willoughby, of Durham Police, said: "We are currently investigating possible motives behind these linked attacks, but cannot confirm anything at present.

"Because they are deliberate arson attacks, we are keeping daily contact with the family and are taking the matter very seriously. It was very lucky that Miss Hunter had a smoke alarm, or else consequences could have been horrific."

Police and fire forensic specialists are carrying out investigations at the property.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.