POLICE have advised owners of filling stations across East Lancashire not to sell petrol in loose containers in the wake of recent racial violence for fear it could be used for petrol bombs and arson attacks.

Officers have visited service stations in Blackburn, Accrington, Darwen and Burnley and told them to be on the look-out for any suspicious customers and to refuse to serve them.

Petrol stations across the county said they had been given the advice following the outbreak of racial tension in Burnley and Accrington.

Last weekend an Asian family was forced to flee for their lives after arsonists torched their home in Bold Street, Accrington.

Ismail Master, owner of Shadsworth Self Serve, Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, said: "Police have told us not to sell petrol to anyone if we are at all suspicious of their motives."

Two other garage owners in Blackburn confirmed they had been given the same advice, but asked not to be identified.

Mike Sheridan, owner of the Accrington Service in Abbey Street, opposite the police station, said: "We have had a phone call and an e-mail from police headquarters reminding us of the legislation that it is illegal to sell petrol in anything other than a proper container and we have put notices to that effect on the forecourt. We started asking questions from the police anyway when the trouble started."

Owner of the Chapel Street Service Station, Accrington, Yusuf Patel, said: "We got notice from the police who phoned and advised us not to sell petrol in loose containers. We have had quite a few people coming in and asking, but they have all been refused."

Neil Edwards, manager of the Avenue Service Station, Casterton Street, Burnley, said: "We have had advice from police. But we haven't had any more people than usual asking to buy petrol in loose cans. I don't know how long the ban will last, we will have to take further advice from police on that." Brian Pye of M & S Car Sales, Bolton Road, Darwen, was refused fuel at the Bolton Road Service Station.

He lives in Avenue Parade, Accrington, close to the scene of the shop fire bombing attack. He said: "I was turned down point blank by the assistant. I can understand the concern.

"I saw the aftermath of the shop attack, but I was still surprised to be turned down because I go to that service station most days and the staff know me. I wanted the petrol for a car at my garage.

"I contacted the police about it and was told they haven't banned the sale of fuel in cans but that they are advising garages to use their discretion."

Kirsty Flynn, manager of the service station said: "Police did advise us not to sell petrol in loose containers just after all the trouble started in Accrington and we are sticking to that."

A police spokesman said: "We have been visiting garages and advising them to use their own judgement before they sell petrol in containers.

"It is part of our efforts at community safety.

"We have not imposed any sort of ban, but we are asking staff and owners to err on the side of caution.

"If anything occurs which is suspicious, unusual or gives staff cause for concern they should contact the police so we can investigate.

"We are also advising garage owners to ensure that their CCTV systems are working properly to record any suspicious incidents."