Police are hunting for a "despicable individual" who deliberately set fire to a pensioner's house as she slept.

The 73-year-old was sleeping in her home in Woodstock Drive, Wishaw, when she was awoken by her fire alarm and discovered the carpet at her front door was alight.

However, she managed to get out of the door and alerted a neighbour who called emergency services.

The victim has been left badly shaken by the incident that took place at around 4am on Tuesday and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Following a joint investigation between police and fire services, the fire is being treated as wilful.

Detective constable Gerry Hattie said: "To deliberately start a fire at the door of an elderly woman is absolutely shocking and extensive enquiries are underway to find the despicable individual or individuals involved.

"There is no apparent reason why this woman would have been targeted and thankfully she had a working smoke alarm to alert her to what was happening.

"She has been left extremely frightened and upset and I am calling on anyone who can assist us in finding out who is responsible to please come forward.

"The victim's upper flat is accessed directly by stairs outside the property and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Woodstock Drive in the early hours of this morning, and noticed anyone hanging around or acting suspiciously, to get in touch.

"I would also urge any motorists with dashcams who were in the vicinity to check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance, such as someone running away or a car driving at excess speed."