AN ANGRY mum has hit out at the firebugs who targeted her Basingstoke family home in a suspected arson attack.

In the early hours of Monday, a lighted refuse bin was put in front of the Osborne family's house in Taverner Place, Oakridge.

Mother Lisa Osborne, 29, said she awoke to the smell of burning rubber and went downstairs to investigate.

She added: "When I looked at the door, all I could see were flames leaping up at the window. It was a very frightening experience."

Mrs Osborne stayed inside the house with her two children, while her husband Jonathon, 29, went outside to try to put the fire out.

Mrs Osborne said: "By the time Jonathon got out there the firefighters had arrived to put the bin fire out."

Mrs Osborne added: "The people who did this are just stupid. They could have burned our house down and killed everybody inside."

Oakfern Housing Association spokesman Les Love said the damage to the property was minimal but an officer had been sent out to investigate.

The house next door to the Osborne home also had a bin set alight. But fortunately this was away from the front wall of the house so no damage was done.

Anyone who can help the police inquiry into the suspected arson incidents is asked to contact Detective Constable Brad Wanless at Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 45 45.