A WOMAN and a baby had to be rescued after a depressed teenager started a £4,000 blaze in a block of flats.

Neighbour Richard Boo-shan stacked up wheelie bins to reach them on a first floor balcony at the premises in Windsor Drive, Kidderm-inster.

The arsonist Amanda Ratcliffe, pregnant with her second child, refused to climb down. She was helped to safety by firemen.

The 18-year-old began the fire by lighting a tea towel after drinking lager, Richard Atkins, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

Ratcliffe, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to arson while reckless whether life was endangered.

Mr Justice Hughes said the blaze could have got out of control and killed.

Eight of the 11 flats were occupied.

He accepted Ratcliffe suffered a panic attack when "significantly depressed" and unable to cope.

He gave her a two-year community rehabilitation order on condition she undergo psychiatric treatment.

On July 6 this year Ratcliffe and her baby Jessica were visited by a friend.

After Ratcliffe returned from the hall carrying two cans of lager, the friend smelled smoke.

She got up to investigate and was confronted by thick fumes. She took the baby onto the balcony and dialled 999 , said Mr Atkins.

Firemen kicked open the flat's door and quickly extinguished the blaze. Ratcliffe at first suggested someone had put lighted material through her letterbox.

But she later confessed and explained she turned arsonist when she was feeling very low.

Tim Harrington, defending, said she felt isolated in her flat.

She had been through a difficult childhood and was immature for her age.

Mr Harrington said she was already attending monthly sessions with a psychiatrist to talk though her problems.

Ratcliffe had lost her flat and was now living with an aunt and uncle in Kidderminster.