A fire that destroyed a house and car in Annan is being treated as suspicious, police have confirmed.

Three children - including a nine-month-old baby - were among those who managed to escape before their home was engulfed by flames.

It happened in Northfield Park just after midnight on Sunday.

A BMW car, parked in front of the house, was first discovered to be on fire. The blaze then spread quickly to the house.

No one was injured, but both the house and the car were destroyed.

A joint police and fire investigation was launched to establish the cause of the fire.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland have now confirmed that it is being treated as suspicious .

They said the occupants were awoken by a loud bang.

They found that a BMW car, which was parked in the driveway next to the house, was on fire.

The family, three adults and three children - aged 10, four and the baby - all evacuated the house and called 999.

On arrival, the Fire and Rescue Service tackled the fire - which had by this time spread to the house.

As a result both the BMW car and house were completely destroyed.

Detective Inspector Dean Little at Dumfries said: "It is quite clear that the occupants of this house had a very lucky escape in this fire which has spread from the car to the house and destroyed both as a result.

"We are now conducting enquiries into what is a serious case of willful fire-raising which could have had tragic consequences had the family not been able to escape the house.

"We are carrying out door to door enquiries in the area and will be reviewing CCTV which we have been able to retrieve from the community.

"I am now appealing to the community, particularly the local residents in and around Northfield Park or anybody who may have been in the area at around midnight on Sunday night, to come forward with any information which might help us in this enquiry.

"Did you see any persons or any unfamiliar vehicles in the area around this time? If you did I would urge you to contact us. I would also ask anyone who may have a private CCTV system to get in touch in order we might review any footage which may assist in this enquiry."

Anyone who has any information is urged to call Annan police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111