AN elderly shopkeeper has spoken of his bewilderment over why his shop was the target of a petrol bomb attack.

The R & T Sewing Machines shop in Accrington Road, Blackburn, was attacked while owner Tom Chadburn, 72, and his wife Norma, 68, were in the upstairs flat.

A stone paving slab was hurled at the glass door and a petrol bomb thrown inside. The attack on the shop, which is surrounded by terrace houses, took placed at 11pm on Wednesday.

Mr Chadburn said: "Fortunately, we were still dressed. Obviously, the whole place shook which brought us downstairs, but no one was about."

The petrol bomb went out as it was thrown into the shop. Mr Chadburn said: " I do not understand what the motive was.

"I can't understand it, we've had no rows with neighbours or anything like that.

"It's just crazy, they obviously intended to get it in. The intent was there which, is worrying.

"If another incident takes place it will be a different ball game, but at the moment we are putting it down to a one-off."

Mr Chadburn added other shops on the road had their windows broken last week.

The couple have only recently moved back to live above the shop. They have run the family business for the past 30 years and have had no previous problems.

Mr Chadburn said they were determined the attack would not put them off living above the shop, although Norma had been upset by the incident.

Detectives are investigating and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them at Blackburn CID on 01254 353569.

Det Sgt Paul Broxson said: "We are investigating this incident, but at the moment we are baffled as to what the motive might be.

"We have no descriptions of the offenders and the shop owner had no enemies that he knows of and has had no problems with customers.

"It's a bit of a mystery."