SUSPECTED arsonists broke into an empty house in Leigh and set fire to a sofa.

Three fire crews were called to an end terrace in Westleigh Lane at 11.21pm last night after neighbours spotted smoke pouring from the window.

Firefighters, who were told a woman lived in the property with her children, carried out an emergency search but found no one there.

They discovered a window had been smashed, the back door forced and a sofa in a room on the ground floor deliberately set alight.

It also transpired that the house had only recently become vacant, although furniture had been left there.

Firefighters from Leigh, Atherton and Hindley used hoses to put out the blaze, which had spread from the sofa towards the kitchen and left the whole house very heavily smoke damaged.

Police officers also attended and are now investigating the incident.

Paramedics were also called to the scene when it was thought there could be casualties inside, but were not needed.