A TERRIFIED boy ran a mile home with badly burned clothes after thugs threw fireworks at him as he played football.

Police today issued an appeal for help in catching and stopping youths involved in the potentially deadly prank in the week that an 18-year-old boy from East Lancashire died after a firework exploded in his face.

Daniel Duffy, 11, was today being comforted by his parents after his ordeal on a park off Lister Street, Accrington.

The traumatised youngster's grandad Peter Baines said three youths started throwing fireworks at Daniel as he walked home from playing football.

They then placed a lit piece of touchpaper inside his jumper, causing his clothes to catch fire.

Police are now investigating the incident and have repeated their warning about playing with fireworks.

Peter, of Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, said: "He is in such a terrible state now. All he was doing was playing football when these three thugs started throwing fireworks at him.

"I couldn't believe it when they said they had thrown the touch paper down his back and set his clothes on fire.

"It is miraculous he wasn't seriously hurt." Daniel's experience comes in the week that 18-year-old Paul Ridge was killed after he returned to an unexploded firework on Tuesday night.

Just a day earlier youngsters blew a car parked in Windermere Avenue, Huncoat, to bits after lighting a firework inside it.

And fire chiefs said it was a miracle no-one was killed when a phone box in Church was ripped to pieces by a firework explosion on Saturday evening.

Peter added: "When you consider the things that have happened this week, I am amazed that children are still playing with fireworks.

"I am disgusted they managed to get hold of them as well. So much more injury could have been caused.

"Where is the fun in trying to scare someone to death?"

The incident has been reported to the police, who are still investigating it and the incidents earlier this week.

A police spokesman said: "We are very concerned that youngsters are still playing with fireworks when we have seen all too clearly this week the dangers they pose if not used properly.

"The dangers are frightening, especially for innocent people, such as the lad involved here.

"We would appeal for information on any of the incidents we have witnessed this week."

Picture: scene of attack, the park area off Lister Street, Accrington