ARSONISTS who may have struck twice in as many nights have brought terror to a council estate.

And police fear it may be "third time unlucky" if the arsonists strike again.

In the latest incident in the early hours today, a family with four young children were woken by firemen after a wheelie-bin was pushed against their back door and set on fire.

The attack happened in Staffa Cresent, Shadsworth, Blackburn, a day after a similar fire in nearby Ballantrae Road in which a three-piece suite was piled against a door and torched while the family of five were upstairs asleep.

James Walker, his wife Carol, and children Naomi, 10, Thomas, eight, Jamie, five and Arran, four, were also asleep when the latest attack took place.

"I'd done a 13-hour shift and went to bed at 10 pm," said Mr Walker, a cutters mate at Cable Components.

"We were all fast asleep.

"If it hadn't been for the fire brigade, God knows what would have happened.

"The people who did this are totally irresponsible, stupid idiots."

Shadsworth Labour councillor Mike Madigan described the attacks as extremely worrying. "Someone must have a very sick mind," he said.

Police are investigating a "suspicious" phone call made to the fire brigade alerting them of the fire and want the person who made it to come forward.

Det Insp Terry Richardson said: "There are similarities between the two incidents and we are not ruling out the possibility of them being linked.

"However, at this stage there is no firm evidence to prove this.

"These are very worrying offences and it's fortunate that on these two occasions the prompt attention of the fire brigade and an element of luck has prevented serious damage or loss of life. Next time, it might be third time unlucky."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.