A FRIGHTENED woman has told how young vandals tried to burn her house to the ground.

Madeline Gibbons, who lives in Haydock Street, Roe Lee, Blackburn, says local youths are behind the attack.

The arsonists smashed a window in the front door of her terraced home and poured what is thought to have been petrol into the house.

A neighbour raised the alarm and police say the house could have been badly damaged if it had not been for a thick curtain behind the door.

Mrs Gibbons said: "I have lived here for ten years and it is a really quiet peaceful spot. I have never had any trouble.

"I have recently had a run-in with some local teenagers who have been hanging around outside the house.

"They have been wrecking my garden and I told them to clear off in no uncertain terms."

She added: "It seems something of a coincidence that just a couple of days later someone tries to burn my house down.

"I was very lucky that I wasn't in at the time or there wasn't more damage to my home. I just can't believe that someone would try to do something like this to me.

"There are lot of elderly people living around here and they are really frightened by what has happened."

The attack took place around 9pm on Friday night and police are calling for any witnesses to contact them as soon as possible.

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn CID on 01254 51212.