HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to take extra care to protect their homes in the run up to Bonfire Night.

The warning comes after firefighters were called to a house in Blackburn when a firework was put through the letterbox.

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It is the second incident of its type within the last two weeks.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said fortunately the exp-losive had ‘kicked back’ out of the letter box and not caused any damage.

But he warned about the potential consequences of acting irresponsibly with fireworks.

He said: “It is a really nasty thing to do. Putting a firework through some-body’s door could result in something terrible happening.

“It is a potentially life-threatening and nasty thing to do.”

The fire service was called into action at around 11pm on Sunday after reports of a firework being thrown into a property in Cambridge Drive.

Earlier in the month yobs posted a lit firework through the front door of the home of a sleeping family in Darwen.

Firefighters said the attack on the home of estate agents Deborah and Paul Ainsworth-Lord and their three young children was ‘stupid’ and ‘nasty’ and could have been potentially fatal.

The spokesman urged residents in East Lancashire to make sure they have smoke alarms fitted.

He said: “Fire-fighters and fire safety staff regularly work with young people about the work they do and the nature of fire.

“It is hard to understand the mindset of the ones that do things like putting fireworks through letterboxes.

“If people are caught doing it, it is appropriate they be punished because it can have consequences.”

For a free check, visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/fire-safety-check