A GRANDMOTHER had a narrow escape after louts stuffed a blazing firework through her letterbox while she slept.

police have condemned the yobs responsible, saying they could have caused a major fire at the 71-year-old widow's bungalow in Cotswold Road, Cashes Green.

Diane Wise, a grandmother-of-four, was drifting off to sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning when she heard a noise at the front door.

"I went to see what it was and found the hallway filled with thick black smoke," said Mrs Wise, an active pensioner who is deputy manager at the YMCA charity shop in Stroud.

"I couldn't see where it was coming from, then I put my hand out and felt the letterbox, it was red hot."

The Mini Storm - which emits showers of sparks - was wedged in the draft excluder.

"It was a completely mindless act," said Mrs Wise, who lost her husband three years ago and has lived in the bungalow for seven months.

"I barely slept at all that night, I was worried they might do it again. "I'm very active but there are others nearby who find it difficult to get around.

"These are retirement bungalows and I could have been someone with a heart condition or an asthmatic and inhaled the smoke."

Police arrived swiftly, and officers are appealing for anyone who knows the culprits to get in touch.

Sergeant Garrett Gloyn, of Stroud Police, said: "They could have caused serious damage to the property and even killed someone.

"Mrs Wise was lucky, the outcome could have been far more serious." Mrs Wise's daughter, Elaine Wise, was deeply shocked by the incident.

"It's appalling and shows a complete lack of respect for others," she said.

"I am disgusted."

THE SNJ asks what sort of warped mind pushes a lit firework through anyone's letterbox never mind a vulnerable OAP's?

We ask anyone who has any information about those responsible to call Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.