A GANG of men left a trail of destruction after two cars, a school and a shop were firebombed in Accrington in one night, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Rajib Ali, 20, was one of four men who plotted together and with others to make petrol bombs as disturbances erupted in nearby Burnley, last June.

Ali was part of a gang which "decided to do something about," it after they heard the National Front was on its way to Accrington, although it was not alleged the attacks were racially motivated.

They pulled their clothes over their faces to conceal their identities if they thought they had been spotted and carried the bombs in plastic bin liners and an Asda carrier bag.

The defendant was later to tell police his fingerprints were on milk bottles used to make the bombs because he had been playing cricket and a crate of bottles had been used as a wicket.

Ali, of Empress Street, Accrington, denies conspiracy to commit arson, on June 28.

Tim Brennand, prosecuting, said the defendant played a very real role in the making and use of the bombs which left a trail of destruction.

The first attack took place on Gloucester Avenue, where a Ford Fiesta was set ablaze. Within a couple of hours Central Car Sales had been targeted. A Fiat Uno there was completely burnt out and other cars were damaged.

Later that night, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School on Bradshaw Lane was hit, in an attack which could have had devastating consequences, but fortunately resulted in no significant damage.

Mr Brennand said the last property to be bombed was Glyn Webb Stores on Blackburn Road, where two made up devices were found in an Asda bag behind the property.

The prosecutor said one of the gang would smash a window with a stone or brick and another would then hurl a petrol bomb inside intending maximum damage to be caused.

In late June last year tensions were running high in Accrington, as in other places in Lancashire, because of the troubles in Burnley, and members of the public who spotted the gang thought what they had seen might be of importance to the police.

One man saw a number of young men gathering in a field at about 4.30pm and fifteen minutes later another witness saw two men dragging a milk crate.

Between 5.30pm and 6pm, some youths were seen carrying red plastic petrol containers, the supply or resupply for the making of the petrol bombs which the Crown alleged the defendant had a hand in.

(Proceeding)