RESIDENTS are being urged not to leave their wheelie bins out overnight after four were set alight in the same area.

Blackburn firefighters were called to a back street of Hardman Street in Mill Hill at 9.45pm on Wednesday after it was reported two bins were alight.

On arrival the crew put out the two bins only to find a third one burning further down the street.

They were about to leave when a police community support officer alerted them to a fourth burning bin behind Stansfield Street.

Crew manager Damian Hartley said: "This is clearly the same person targeting bins left outside.

"We would urge people to only leave their bins out first thing on the morning, and take them in again at the end of the day."

An investigation has been launched into the fires by firefighters and environmental wardens.