A BUILDER has offered a £500 reward for information leading to the arrest of petrol bombers who targeted his van.

Self-employed Karl Davenport, of Shap Close, Baxenden, had just gone to bed on Friday night when the attack took place on the van parked in this driveway causing damage to the van, his garden and driveway.

He said: "I want the culprit caught and to be brought to justice.

"There have been groups of youths hanging about in cars at the top of Southwood Drive drinking and smoking for a long time now.

"It is an ongoing problem and various cars have been scratched before but this is the first time the trouble has come this far down.

"These people have very few brains, if any at all, and this needs to be stopped.

Mr Davenport and his wife Julie had gone to bed just after 11pm and and a neighbour alerted them to the fire at 11.30pm.

The neighbour and Mr Davenport kept the blaze under control with water and a fire extinguisher until the fire brigade arrived.

Mr Davenport added: "Whoever did this must have watched and waited for the lights to go out -- after it happened we couldn't sleep wondering if they would come back to finish it off.

"Somebody must have seen something between 11 and 11.30 that night as people were still coming out of the pubs at that time.

"A two litre bottle that had contained petrol was found so they must have been carrying that before starting the fire."

Coun John Griffiths said: "I don't know anything about this attack. Youths do congregate in the early evening at the top of Southwood Drive and usually disperse to other areas.

"There is nowhere else for them to go in Baxenden so they do tend to congregate on that corner but other than a few seats being scratched there has been no trouble.

"It is a problem but not a big one and certainly no worse than anywhere else. We are aware that there could be a problem in the future and are taking steps to stop it before starts."

A proposal for a security camera at the end of Southwood Drive has also been put forward by Baxenden Area Council which should help to monitor activities in the area in the future.

DC Tony Woodworth, of Accrington CID, confirmed that there was an incident on Friday July 13 at Mr Davenport's address which was being investigated by police.

Anyone with information should contact Accrington CID on 01254 353743 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.