DOOR-to-door inquiries are being made following an arson attack on the Sacred Heart and St Edward's RC Church in Darwen.

Darwen Fire Station commander Steve Cope said that he considered the attack to be 'a serious arson attempt.'

The Blackburn Road was set alight early Sunday morning after a petrol bomb was thrown through the window.

Around £10,000 of damage was caused to the building.

Door to door inquiries are taking place and the fire service's sniffer dog was being used at the scene.

Mr Cope said: "We have been down to the scene with police and in the cold light of day in my opinion this was a serious attempt."

He said the arsonists had actually forced off a plastic vandal-proof cover protecting the stained glass window and said: "It was a sustained attempt to do some serious damage to the church and not just somebody passing by."

DC John Entwistle of Darwen CID appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "We desperately need the help of the public. We cannot believe anybody would carry out this attack without saying anything about it to anyone and with there being no preamble.

"In a crime of this nature it comes down to witnesses or forensic to find the people responsible.

"It seems to be obviously somebody who has a problem with the church. The deed itself would have been over in a matter of seconds."

Mr Cope said the arsonists had committed the offence in a well lit area which was across from houses and they would have been very visible.

He said: "This was a very strange occurrence and we are concerned why the church was targeted in such a way."

DC Entwistle said that because of the extent of the fire damage it was likely the fire had started around 2am and so people coming home after a Saturday night out at the club might have noticed something.

Anyone who thinks they may know who was responsible for the fire should call DC Entwistle at Darwen CID on 01254 353841 or the crimestoppers arson hotline free and in confidence on 0800 555111.