A FAMILY have spoken of their terror after a suspected arsonist caused a radiator to explode and blow the windows out of a Haslingden home yesterday.

Neighbours of the property in Blackburn Road were awoken unexpectedly in the early hours by the blast, which also damaged the front bedroom window of an adjacent house.

Fire and police investigators believe a fire was set underneath a radiator in the front bedroom of an empty terraced house, on the corner of Union Street.

Inside the appliance the water converted to steam, eventually causing it to explode and shatter four upstairs and downstairs window.

Ann Holden, who was sleeping in the bedroom next door to the blast, said: “It was absolutely horrendous. I just heard a bang and ran out into the street.

“I am scared to live here now because of this.”

Her son David Groves, who was sleeping nearby, added: “When I heard the bang I thought we were all for it.”

The family, which also includes David’s father John Groves, say the neighbouring house has been empty for four or five months and has been targeted by vandals previously.

Rawtenstall fire station crew manager Tony Spencer said police and fire investigators believe somebody had broken into the property and deliberately started the fire.

He said: “When we arrived both upstairs windows were smashed and glass was covering the street, with smoke issuing from upstairs.

“The fire was right at the side of a small radiator. The heat caused the water inside to expand and turn to steam and it has to go out somewhere.

“The radiator ended up on the other side of the room, but the force of the explosion had all but put out the fire.

"There was minimal damage from the fire and the house was very sparsely furnished anyway.

“The property next door heard the bang - it even cracked the glass on the inside pane of their double glazed upstairs window.”

Four firefighters used breathing apparatus, a ventilation unit and a thermal imaging camera during the 90-minute incident.