STAFF fled for their lives after a 10-year-old Burnley girl set fire to an Accrington DIY store, a court heard.

The blaze at the Glynn Webb DIY store in February caused £150,000 of damage and endangered the lives of four workers at the shop.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted one charge of arson while being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and a second charge of arson when she appeared at Hyndburn Magistrates Court yesterday.

The youngster will be sentenced at a crown court hearing at a later date.

Prosecutor Peter Wilde described the two attacks on the Blackburn Road DIY shop, and the Barnes furniture shop, at Cannon Street, both Accrington.

He said of the Glynn Webb fire: "Four members of staff managed to escape. But the building was gutted and all the stock damaged.

He said one shop worker called 999 and then ran outside on to the pavement. A few minutes later a window blew out, sending glass outwards.

He said: "It was terrifying. She saw flames and smoke billowing out.

"Afterwards, she kept thinking what might have happened and found herself bursting into tears. She could not believe how anybody could be so callous as to set fire to a shop with staff inside. The workers were lucky to be alive."

A fire brigade investigation revealed the blaze was started deliberately in a bed on the upper floor. And CCTV footage showed a young girl dressed in distinctive clothing.

Damage to chairs in the separate Barnes store fire cost around £300. Mr Wilde said staff spotted a suspicious girl on an upper floor, again wearing distinctive clothing.

Investigations revealed she had returned to check whether the fire she had started was properly alight. It was not but she did not relight it.

"The girl went to a youth club afterward," Mr Wilde said.

Under interview the youngster initially denied arson at the Glynn Webb shop but later admitted both offences. She offered no explanation.

Defence solicitor Graham Parkinson said the girl had some family problems but had stopped offending since a change in her home circumstances.

Youth court bench chairman Michael Hodkinson said: "These were grave crimes which could have had terrible consequences. And the public expects serious consideration of all options. Therefore, we are directing it to crown court."

The girl, whose mother was in court, was granted unconditional bail until May 18. She will return to the youth court for crown court committal.