FIREFIGHTERS are investigating after vandals wrecked allotments and set fire to a shed containing gas cylinders.

Crews had to fight the blaze at allotments off Hollins Lane, Accrington, from behind a dry stone wall until they had got it under control.

They were called to the allotments at 11.30pm on Sunday and spent nearly three hours tackling the fire in the 15ft by 30ft shed.

"They later found eight LPG cylinders - sometimes used for portable fires - in the shed.

Leading firefighter Mark Greenwood said: "It was extremely dangerous. We believe it was deliberate. There was all sorts of vandalism been carried out there. There were eggs smashed all over the place and other sheds had been broken into as well."

The blaze killed several pigeons that were in the shed.