An embittered wife has been jailed for torching her £400,000 family home to spite her husband after an acrimonious divorce.

Janette Higginson, 57, rang police herself to say the estranged couple’s semi detached property was alight telling them: ”I’m not bothered, I am outside my house now – it’s burning, it’s up to you.”

Firefighters dashed to the four-bedroomed house where Higginson had lived for 36 years to find her sat outside covered in soot.

It is thought she started the fire using a lighter and a tin of furniture polish before making a failed attempt to douse the flames with water.

The blaze caused £14,500 of damage in the hallway and front room.

Higginson’s immediate neighbours were forced to flee their property but were not injured and their house was not damaged.

It emerged the blaze occurred on the day Higginson had received a solicitor’s letter thought to be regarding the sale of the property.