A family were forced to flee their Bootle home after it was wrongly targeted in an arson attack.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze at a property on Thornton Road shortly after 10.30pm on Wednesday when police were called to the scene.
A man and woman, aged 26 and 25 respectively, and a six-year-old girl managed to escape the house unharmed before firefighters arrived.
It is thought that two men seen outside the house before the incident took palce deliberately started the fire before escaping in a car.
Police believe that the incident was a case of mistaken identity and that the offenders may have been intending to target another house in the area.
Detective Inspector Graeme Robson, said: “We are extremely fortunate that no-one was injured during this incident and an investigation is ongoing to find those responsible.
“Crime Scene Investigators will be working alongside specialist investigators from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and detectives will be viewing CCTV from the area in a bid to find those responsible.
“As a result of the actions of these offenders, a family have now been forced out of their home.
“I would appeal to anyone who knows who is responsible for this despicable act to come forward so that we can find them and put them before the courts.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sefton CID on 0151 777 3059 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.