POLICE are probing a potential 'revenge attack' line of inquiry after a second petrol bombing in Greenock in three days left a woman badly burned.

The 40-year-old was rushed to hospital after sustaining serious injuries in a 'sickening' fireball at a flat in Wellington Street.

A nine-year-old girl was also within the property at the time but escaped uninjured.

It's believed the blaze around 11pm on Wednesday was started by accelerant being thrown through a window.

It came just two days after 46-year-old George Miller burned to death in a back garden after accidentally setting himself alight while apparently trying to torch a flat in Union Street.

Police have launched a major investigation into a potential link between the two fires.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff of Greenock CID described the Wellington Street incident as a 'sickening, unprovoked attack' which targeted a woman and her child whilst they were in their home.

DI Wagstaff added: "There will be those within the community that will know who is responsible.

"I would encourage them to please do the right thing and come forward with information.

"Whilst investigations are ongoing, additional police patrols will be carried out in various areas of Inverclyde.

"I would like to reassure the community that whilst this incident was unprovoked, there is not believed to be any risk to the wider public."

A large police presence rushed to the scene on Wellington Street along with ambulance crews and the Scottish Fire & Rescue service.

The 40-year-old woman from the address was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where she remains in a stable condition.

Detectives say 'substantial damage' was caused to the property and all those within the block had to be evacuated for a number of hours before returning to their homes.

A small white car was seen in the area at the time of the attack and it was spotted driving off at speed in the direction of the junction of Wellington Street and Duncan Street.

Around 10 minutes later, a white Suzuki Splash, registration number GK14 FZE, was seen being driven into Skye Street in the Bow Road area at speed before three young men got out of the vehicle and sprinted off towards Rankin Street.

The Suzuki - which had been reported stolen from Denholm Street in the west end during the early hours of Wednesday - was discovered ablaze on Skye Street at 2.20am yesterday.

Police are now hunting the trio who fled from the vehicle.

All of the males are described as being in their late teens and of skinny build.

The driver was wearing a black scarf covering the lower part of his face and a black zipped hooded top.

The front passenger was wearing something over his head, with a grey zipped top with the hood up.

The rear passenger is also described as having something over his head and also wore a grey zipped top with the hood up.

DI Wagstaff said: “Enquiries into a fatal fire within a property on Union Street in Greenock around 10.35pm on Monday are ongoing.

“Officers are also investigating two subsequent fires reported around 11.05pm on Wednesday within a property on Wellington Street and a car on fire reported around 2.20am on Thursday, on Skye Street.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish whether there is any link between them.”

*Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 4105 of Wednesday September 16. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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NIGHT-TIME PICS: Duncan Bryceland.

DAY-TIME PICS: Louise Gault