A MAN has been cleared of an arson attack on an Accrington flat, which put the lives of the residents at risk.

It had been claimed that Gareth McCash acted because of a "grievance", a court has heard.

A jury was sworn at Preston Crown Court and evidence had begun before the Crown offered no evidence in the case. The defendant was then found not guilty by the jury, on the directions of Judge Anthony Russell QC.

The 26-year-old, of Oakdene Avenue, Accrington had denied charges of burglary and arson, being reckless whether the lives of several people would be endangered. However, another man is currently awaiting sentence, having pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and arson, the court was told.

The two male occupants hid in the loft of the upstairs property as a burglary initially took place. Then a bedroom was set on fire at the Warwick Close home in Church. On the night of August 3 last year Jason Burton, who is also known as Day, was at home in Warwick Close, with his flat mate Mark Roland. The two were watching a film when a vehicle pulled up in the street.

He went on to hear someone approach the door. Mr Burton and his flat mate climbed into the loft to hide, thinking they were about to be attacked. A burglary then took place. The fire severely damaged the flat. A 79-year-old woman living downstairs had to be shepherded out of her home.