A FAMILY of four had to be evacuated after an arson attack at a shop in Burnley today..

The fire was started deliberately in a pile of plastic bread crates piled outside the Asian-owned general greengrocer's and halal meat shop in Cromwell Street, at 5.20am.

The heat from the blaze smashed the shop's front window and the fire spread inside, causing several thousands of pounds-worth of damage to the building and stock. Smoke also spread to the adjoining house where the shop owner, Tanveer Ahmed and his family live.

Three people were led to safety by firefighters while the fourth was already out of the building when the fire brigade arrived. No-one was hurt.

Sergeant Geoff Simmons, of Burnley police, said: "At this stage there doesn't seem to be any racist motive.

"At the same time, a fire was started in a wheelie bin in Brougham Street two streets away, which would indicate the fires were probably started by someone drunkenly walking home and thinking it was entertaining to do this kind of thing."

Firefighters already in the area dealing with the bin fire were diverted to the shop and managed to prevent the blaze spreading. The fire damaged the shop counter and caused extensive smoke damage to the rest of the building and goods on sale.

Sub-officer Peter Latham, of Burnley fire station, said: "Quite a lot of the stock will have been tainted by smoke.

He added" When we got there, one person was coming out of the house and we helped another two out. There was a man upstairs presumably making sure everyone was out, so we got him outside as well."

Staff were cleaning up today and trying to salvage what goods they could. One of the family, who declined to give his name, said: "We woke up when we realised smoke was coming from the shop.

"Everyone managed to get out all right. It's made a mess of the front of the shop. I think it was just some idiot going past who thought they would set fire to the crates."