A family of five were lucky to escape with their lives after an arson attack on their home.

Firefighters were called to the house in Normandy Road, Worthing, at 4.30am yesterday after someone torched a recycling bin in their porch.

It was one of three arson attacks in the area during the early hours of the morning – bringing to seven the number of homes attacked in the week.

Three fire engines from West Sussex Fire and Rescue were sent to tackle the Normandy Road blaze which stopped the family leaving the property through the front door. Mark Seaton, his partner and three children were woken by a smoke alarm in the property and left the building through the back door before the fire crews arrived.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “Someone had deliberately set fire to a box which was in the porch.

“Everyone got out safely and damage to the property wasn’t too bad. It could have been so much worse.”

The fire is being investigated by the fire service and police.

Firefighters used buckets of water to extinguish the blaze which damaged the bin and part of the front door.

Shortly afterwards a lit leaflet was pushed through the letterbox of a house in Gratwicke Road.

The flames activated a smoke alarm and little damage was caused.

At around the same time the net curtains of a home in Clifton Road were set alight but the fire burnt itself out.

On Thursday, Sussex Police offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and convictions behind four fires in Tarring, Worthing, on Tuesday night.

They are not being connected to yesterday’s fire.

One couple was trapped in their porch when a blaze at their Rackham Road home spread to their conservatory.

Another three fires were started within 100 yards of each other in Lindum Way, Selsey Close and Littlehampton Road, between 11.40pm and 1.10am. Two men, aged 52 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with Tuesday’s fires but were bailed while police investigate further.

The police and the fire service will be in Rackham Road from 11am today to brief residents.

Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.