POLICE investigating the Jackass-style stunts which resulted in Darwen boy Joe Armstrong suffering serious burns have arrested and questioned two teenagers, it was revealed today.

The youths have been released on police bail while officers carry out further inquiries.

Det Sgt Paul Rothwell said: "A 15-year-old youth has been arrested for an offence of assault and incitement to commit assault. A 14-year-old has been arrested for the offence of assault.

"Both youths have been arrested and questioned at our Greenbank Station in Blackburn. They have been released on police bail pending further inquiries."

Police began looking into whether any criminal offence was committed after 11-year-old Joe suffered serious burns as a friend filmed him jumping over fire.

The youngsters were filming the stunts for a website entitled Live Now Die Later which featured various video clips including a boy having his forehead punctured on a bed of nails and another being run over by a car.

After the fire stunt, Joe spent about a month in Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, before being allowed home.

His mother, Alyson, believes a woman who tended to Joe in the moments after the accident actually saved his life.

She put him in a bath of cold water, a move which almost certainly saved his life, medics have said.

The stunt, which his friends were filming, was similar to those performed in the MTV show 'Jackass'.

The incident has led to MPs and TV watchdogs publicly condemning the show.

TV regulator Ofcom said it would look into Joe's case when it drew up new television guidelines.

Last week, Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson criticised supermarket chain Sainsbury's for stocking the 'Jackass' DVD in Darwen.