A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who set fire to an elderly couple’s home put a note through the door after the fire brigade had left saying he was ‘sorry’.

But just hours later he started another fire at a nearby house where a couple and their four children were sleeping upstairs.

Blackburn magistrates heard no one was injured in the fires but Andrea Fawcett, prosecuting, said there was always the risk of far more serious consequences when fires were deliberately started.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

He was remanded in custody until September 11 for the preparation of psychiatric and pre-sentence reports.

Mrs Fawcett said Robert Shaw and his wife were in bed at their home in Accrington, when they were woken by the smoke alarm.

“They were able to get out of the house unharmed and the fire brigade attended and dealt with the fire,” said Mrs Fawcett.

“She said the boy was clearly aware the fire brigade had attended because he put a note through the couple’s door saying he was sorry for what he had done.

“Despite that he has done the same thing, putting burning material through the letterbox, at another house in a nearby terraced street a few hours later,” said Mrs Fawcett.

“A young family, including four children were asleep upstairs when the fire was started. They were all able to get out of the house uninjured.”

Peter King, defending, said it was crucial the magistrates had the correct reports before proceeding to sentence.

Ordering psychiatric and pre-sentence reports the chairman of the magistrates said the offences were ‘very, very serious’.