A BOOTLE mum and her six month old baby were rescued from a house fire after a rocket was fired through their letterbox on Mischief Night. Laura Caveney, 18, was asleep in her bedroom with her six month old daughter Olivia, when she was startled by a bang followed by a red flash which lit up the house on Ash Street. The rocket exploded in the hall setting fire to the stairs, carpet and wallpaper. Thick black smoke billowed from the hall up to the top of the house, and the young mum quickly realised she was trapped upstairs with her baby. Laura, who has been living in Bootle for four months, grabbed the mobile from under her pillow and dialled 999, before banging desperately against the window in a bid to attract attention. A passing girl soon spotted Laura and tried to kick open her front door, before Merseyside Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene a little after 10.30pm. Officers wearing breathing apparatus knocked down the front door and reached the stranded mother and baby upstairs. Laura was told to put a coat on and cover her baby’s face before she was led downstairs through the smoke to safety. The single mum, who is currently on maternity leave, was taken in by her neighbour Leanne Olenycz who provided blankets to keep mother and baby warm. The couple were then taken to Fazakerley Hospital by ambulance for precautionary tests, where they later received the all-clear. Her thoughts then turned to pet dog Millie who had been left behind in the drama. Fortunately her sister Rebecca was allowed into the house after the attack and she found the terrier hiding under a bed. Laura said: “I thought I would never see my daughter again and I am now too scared to be in the house on my own at night. “My sister Rebecca is staying with me and I am going to my boyfriend’s house tonight for November 5. “I am now sleeping with a baseball bat next to my bed just in case. “The fire and smoke damage bill will run to several hundred pounds and I had to pay for a new front door. “I am new to the area so I do not have any enemies. “Every bang makes me jump and I have been left very nervous and. I cry a lot and suffer from what I think are mild panic attacks. “But I love my house and I will not let the bullies drive me out. “I can’t believe shops are allowed to sell these type of fireworks. They should be banned. “If the firemen had been any later who knows what would have happened.” Bootle Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Burnham said: “Merseyside Police take arson extremely seriously. “I can only urge anyone in the community with information on this incident to call the Marsh Lane dedicated office on 0151 709 6010.” | 
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