ARSONISTS targeted a shed on a Burnley allotment in a 'disgraceful' attack.

Fire crews were called to deal with three blazes within six hours on Monday night into the early hours yesterday.

At least one of the fires, in a shed in Moseley Road yesterday morning, is being treated as suspicious.

Two crews spent more than an hour battling flames at the allotment.

Fire chiefs called on gardening enthusiasts to ensure shed were securely locked overnight, and that flammable products were removed.

The incident took place at 12.10am.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to a fire on an allotment patch in Moseley Road shortly after midnight.

“Two pumps had to spend more than an hour putting out the fire. We are treating it as suspicious.

“We did receive reports about a gang of youths hanging around the area and these will be passed to the police.”

Two other minor rubbish fires were also tackled by fire crews on the same shift.

Rubbish was set alight on waste ground in Cog Lane at 7pm on Monday, while an unwanted mattress put out for collection in Pendle Way was targeted by arsonists at 2.30am yesterday.

Coun Jeff Sumner, who represents the Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward, said: “We’re trying to promote allotments in Burnley for leisure purposes and people take a lot of pride in them. I’ve got one myself. It’s somewhere where people go to forget about the problems of everyday life and if this attack was deliberate it’s disgraceful.

"I hope the culprits are brought to justice.

“This is someone’s pride and joy and could even contain lifestock. It’s ridiculous that someone would want to target it.”