A woman was rescued from her home in Hill Top by fire crews after arsonists threw lighting paper through her letter box early today.

The 25-year-old who was alone woke up at around 2am to find smoke in the property.

Watch commander at Tipton fire station Paul Harpin said the woman was very lucky because she had no smoke alarms in her Pleasant Street home.

He said: “She woke up and quickly realised what was happening. She shut her bedroom door before dialling 999. She then went to her bedroom window and waited to be rescued.”

Fire crews from Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich used a ladder to rescue the woman from her bedroom window which was at the front of the house.

They then quickly extinguished the blaze.

Mr Harpin said: “The woman required no medical treatment. She was shocked but unhurt. The fire damage was relatively minimal considering the situation.”

Her porch and hallway were damaged by the fire and there was some smoke logging inside.

He urged residents to install fire alarms and to check them regularly.

The arson attack at the house is now being investigated by the police. A couple recently moved in.