POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack on a house in Mosley Street, Blackburn.

An elderly woman next door to the empty terrace property was evacuated.

Firefighters were called to the property near the junction with Abraham Street at 7pm on Tuesday, after the fire took hold in the living room.

The house was severely damaged by fire and the woman was evacuated after smoke from the fire seeped into her home.

Blackburn firefighters put out the blaze within an hour and the woman spent the night with friends.

PS Sally Riley of Blackburn police said the fire was being treated as suspicious and appealed for witnesses.

"We have every reason to believe that the fire was started deliberately and would like to hear from anyone who may have seen people break into the property," she said.

Station Officer Andrew Barton said the people who started the blaze had little idea of the consequences of their actions.

"Starting rubbish fires is one thing, but starting a fire in a house is quite another.

"The house was empty, but it was substantially damaged and this could have been a far more serious matter," he said.

Contact PS Riley or DC Adrian Lewin on 01254 353567, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.