THE victims of an arson attack in Parr had to dive to safety from an upstairs window after a mum-of-four set fire to a house.

Sarah Brodie, of Albany Road, Lymm was jailed for six years at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The court heard how the 51-year-old had been extremely drunk when she set fire to a mattress within a three-bedroom property on Fleet Lane on the morning of April 27, 2015.

Many of the people in the home were sleeping when Brodie deliberately started the fire.

Seven people were left with no option but to jump from an upstairs window to save themselves as the flames quickly engulfed the property.

Two of the victims suffered broken bones as a result of diving from the burning building.

Mum-of-four Brodie, who had earlier told friends that she wished to die, had to be dragged from the property to safety and was later treated for burns in hospital.

During a police interview, Brodie, who has previous convictions including drunkenly assaulting two paramedics, told officers that she has been feeling suicidal and depressed following the death of her mum. 

Brodie acted as a carer for her mum but she has struggled to come to terms with her death after taking her to Warrington Hospital.

Brodie made a complaint to the hospital and on the day of the fire received a letter in response to the issues she raised, which made her turn to drink.

Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court that Brodie did not carry out the attack out of revenge or anger and she was devastated that she had caused any harm to her friends. 

Sentencing Judge David Aubrey, QC, said it was pure chance that no one was injured during the blaze which left a trail of "devastation and destruction".