A Blackburn pub landlord was so determined to hold a firework charity event that he broke his foot putting out flames when arsonists set alight the bonfire.

Carl Duckworth and Sandra Meyer planned the event to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support but soon realised they had a battle on their hands when a mountain of wood collected for the fire was set alight on three occasions.

As Mr Duckworth tackled the third blaze, a wooden pallet fell on his left foot, leaving him in agony.

The event eventually went ahead as planned and raised £125 - but not before arsonists had lit the fire again.

Mr Duckworth's foot will take between three to six months to heal.

The pair, of the Fox and Grapes Pub, Limefield, Blackburn, began organising their firework display on October 29.

Donations of wood came flooding into the pub from local businesses and were stored on the pub's carpark.

But on October 31 at 11pm Carl and pub regulars called the fire brigade to put out the first of three fires.

Carl said: "Three times we had to put the bonfire out but I wanted to go ahead.

"We will not be beaten, was the attitude I took.'"

Sandra said: "Carl said he was in pain I told him to stop moaning and get to bed. When I woke on Sunday up I found him on the sofa in agony.

"I took him to the hospital about 2pm and doctors told us he had broken his foot.

"We were getting ready to get the bonfire going but someone beat us to it - they threw a petrol bomb over the car park wall and lit it.

"I was ready for giving up but Carl was determined to have the bonfire.

"We were not going to let them stop us and were determined to have a good night and we did."