A 51-YEAR-old woman has been charged with arson after eight people were hospitalised due to smoke inhalation in a house fire.

Lymm resident Sarah Brodie has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a house fire on Fleet Lane in St Helens in the early hours of Thursday April 21.

Brodie, of Albany Road, appeared at South Sefton Magistrates court yesterday, Wednesday April 27, and was remanded in custody.

The house was extensively damaged in the blaze, which was reported at around 4.20am, and eight people including Brodie were hospitalised due to smoke inhalation.