POLICE today re-issued an appeal for witnesses to a pub fire which almost cost a family their lives.

Fires were started at the front and side doors of the Printers Arms, Accrington Road, Blackburn.

Smoke pouring through the doors woke 12-year-old Shane Yates who alerted mum and landlady Alison and partner Dave Haworth. The thickness of the doors prevented the fire from spreading and the blaze extinguished itself.

Detectives said the arson attack early on January 5 could have killed.

Contact Blackburn CID on 01254 51212.