A FAMILY say they are lucky to be alive after firebugs targeted their pub.

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

Smoke pouring through the doors woke 12-year-old Shane Yates who alerted mum Alison and partner Dave Haworth. Landlady Alison said: "The pub was full of smoke and it could easily have ended up as a tragedy. It was very dangerous."

Fortunately the thickness of the doors prevented the fire from spreading and the blaze extinguished itself. Neither Dave, Alison, Shane or seven-year-old Carly required hospital treatment.

Blackburn CID today launched an appeal to catch the culprits, who, said Detective Inspector Mark Gray, could have caused very serious consequences.

DI Gray said: "It could have been far more serious than what it fortunately turned out to be. Somebody could have sustained very serious injuries in this blaze or possibly even worse."

The attack took place in the early hours of Saturday morning in between 1am and 1.30am but details have only just been released.

DI Gray said: "The fire never got to the stage where it caused serious damage but the potential was certainly there. It was only the substantial fire doors which prevented something far worse."

The firedoors were damaged in the blaze and are to be replaced.

If anybody has any information or saw anyone acting suspiciously they should contact DI Gray at Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.