A MUM has spoken of the terrifying moment she caught a man trying to set fire to her home while her unsuspecting teenage daughter was inside.

Julie Ingram was on her way back to her home in Ebor Street, in Burnley, when she saw a man outside her door trying to put a lit, petrol soaked rag through her letter box.

Her 14-year-old daughter, Charlotte, had taken the day off school because she was ill and was in bed inside the house.

Julie said: "I could see he had a petrol can and a piece of rag or something that was on fire.

"I started screaming that my daughter was in the house and shouted for someone to call the police and the fire brigade.

"It is very lucky that I came home when I did otherwise this could have been a hell of a lot worse."

The incident, which happened at around 9am yesterday morning, is being investigated by Burnley CID.

DS Jon Bullas said: "We received a call yesterday that a male had been disturbed attempting to pour petrol through the letter box of an address in Ebor Street with the intention of setting light to the petrol. We are treating the incident as serious - there was someone in the house at the time.

"There were quite a lot of people in the area at the time and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed it to come forward."

The man is described as white, aged 18 to 23, 5ft 5ins to 5ft 8ins tall and of slim build. He had a pale complexion, short cropped dark hair and was wearing a navy blue jacket, possible with cream and red down the sides, dark coloured trousers and trainers.

After being disturbed he ran from the scene and is believed to have made off in a green vehicle parked in the Ebor Street area.

Anyone with information about the incident or the offender is asked to telephone Jon Bullas, at Burnley CID, on 01282 472144. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.