TWO women had to put out a small fire near the front door of their house after an item was posted through the letter box.

Police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have launched an investigation after the incident in Market Street, Whitworth, at around 6.50pm on Tuesday night.

The two women in their 20s heard the letter box flap and then saw smoke in the hallway of the property.

Damien Hartley, watch manager at Bacup Fire Station, said: “It was only a small fire. There was something put through the letter box which filled the room with smoke and left some burn marks on the carpet behind the doors.

“The police were called to the incident and they called us. Two appliances attended but the fire had been put out by the time we arrived.

“A joint investigation has been launched and we are treating it as a suspicious fire.”