Nurse is hailed as a hero for saving a family after a malicious arsonist set their car on fire

A nurse was hailed as a hero for saving a family after an arsonist set fire to their car.

Ruth Thompson and her two daughters were asleep when the Ford Ka was set on fire right next to their home.

Lisa Dodd, 44, spotted the flames and ran outside to bang on the windows to wake her.

Neighbor Paul Deer said: “Lisa is a heroine. The family was asleep – they wouldn’t have had a chance.”

A man in his 40s was arrested in Wimborne, Dorset, on Sunday night for arson attacks on 13 cars.

Lisa said: “I was just getting comfortable in my upstairs bedroom when I noticed something odd behind my blinds.

“The lights seemed to go out a bit and when I looked out I saw that the hood of the car was on fire.

“I knew there was a sleeping family in the room next to the fire and I was afraid the car would explode.

“I immediately ran to wake her up and get her out of the room.”