TWO men were taken to hospital after an arson attack and a street fight.

Police said a car was set on fire just after midnight in Edleston Street, Accrington, and windows of houses were smashed in Hyndburn Street and Countess Street.

Officers were also called to a fight in Countess Street where two men, aged 20 and 43, were taken to hospital.

The 20-year-old discharged himself some time later, but the 43-year-old remains in Royal Preston Hospital with fractures. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Police are trying to discover the pair’s involvement, if any, in the incident.

The windscreen of a Mitsubishi Shogun had been severely damaged and a white car had damage to its front bumper and left wheel.

An upstairs front window of a house had been smashed as well as two ground-floor windows and a front door.

Stephen Hawkins, who lives on the road, said there had been a few incidents in the area over the last few years.

He said: “I walked by and saw the road had been cordoned off and there was an armed police response unit parked up.

“I looked on and saw there was a 4x4 with what looked like bullet holes in the window.

“There was also a white car that had its front end off and a house had its front windows smashed.

“There’s been quite a few incidents there recently in that community.

“There was a shooting around here last year and that was over drugs, there’s been a really big drug abuse problem, it’s been ongoing for years.”

Another Countess Street resident said: “It’s worrying to think something dangerous has happened outside my home.

“The police cars have been here since at least 6am when I woke up.”

“The investigation vans arrived in the afternoon and the forensic officers have been working non-stop, checking the cars and collecting things from the street.”

Detective Chief Inspector Marie Haworth, said: “We are investigating these incidents. We are confident that there is no threat to the wider community in the Accrington area but we have increased visible police patrols as reassurance.

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact us on 101, or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”