THE entrance to a second-floor flat was engulfed in flames after petrol was “poured through the letterbox.”

Three people are understood to have been inside the Halliwell apartment when the door was set alight.

Police and fire crews were called to the blaze at Southern House, in Peterhead Close, in the early hours of this morning.

Residents told The Bolton News that there have been "ongoing issues" at the flats for several months.

One tenant said he had been "threatened with a machete" two months ago.

The doorway to the top-floor flat was badly burnt and fire had also spread into the hallway, leaving the walls and carpet burned. A section of the carpet has since been pulled out.

A large window just outside the flat was also smashed, leaving shattered glass strewn inside and outside the building.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and remains in police custody for questioning.

The Bolton News:

Anthony Coleman, aged 33, said: "We heard a lot of shouting and banging at about 1.30am, and then we heard glass smashing to the floor. Later on we saw some smoke.

"We saw the police arrive. I know the man who was arrested. He is a really quiet lad. His two dogs and his family are his life.

"I spoke to him when he was in the police car, and he had blood on his face."

Mr Coleman said that there have been "ongoing problems" at Southern House dating back several months.

He said: "We have had drug users in the building. We have seen needles on the floor. I have received threats. We have had to clean faeces off the floor.

"Two months ago, someone was outside the building threatening me with a machete because I wouldn't let them inside.

"This has been ongoing for months and months and months."

Following the incident this morning, a petrol can and lighting materials were discovered outside the second-floor flat.

Two fire engines from Bolton Central and one crew from Bolton North were called shortly after 1.30am.

The people inside the flat had been awake at the time of the incident. They were unharmed.

Another resident who lives in Southern House said: "I heard very loud shouting. There was a banging sound on the window. I saw the police arrive.

"It is worrying. It does not make you feel safe. There have been ongoing problems. I have requested to move into other accommodation."

Jim Smethurst, watch manager at Bolton Central Fire Station, said: “The people inside the flat were in shock. The ramifications of what could have happened hit home.

“It was a very serious incident.

“Petrol had been poured through the letterbox and the front door had been set on fire. This had spread into the hallway of the flat.

“The occupants had thrown a bowl of water over the flames to extinguish the fire. It was almost out when we arrived. We used extinguishers to put out the fire and a gas detector to make sure that the petrol fumes were not at an explosive level.”

Crews ventilated the flats in the entire building but no one had to be evacuated.

Each of the flats in the block will be offered safe and well visits which include tests of smoke alarms and safety advice.

Bolton at Home staff attended the property to help clean up the shattered glass.

The Bolton News:

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "A man has been arrested after a fire at a flat in Bolton.

"A joint investigation with the fire service was launched after reports of the fire at Southern House in Halliwell at around 1.20am this morning.

"A 28-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of arson and remains in custody for questioning.

"Thankfully no-one was injured."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5757 quoting incident number 99 of May 9, 2019. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously  on 0800 555 111.