A YOUTH group leader has spoken of her horrifying experience when a make-shift firebomb - made by 11-year-olds - was thrown into a Preston church hall being used for a boys brigade meeting.

The incendiary device was hurled into the hall at Brookfield Methodist church hall seconds after Boys Brigade group leader Vicki King had unbolted the front door, which is normally kept locked because of the danger posed by menacing local thugs.

The device, which comprised of a deodorant can attached to a half-inflated burning balloon, exploded but, thanks to Vicki's quick thinking, the fire was extinguished before any real damage could be done.

However, the Boys Brigade group leader of 30 years believes it could have been a very different story.

She said: "A few minutes later and one of the children could have been walking through, and we were so lucky that it didn't explode fully. It could seriously have hurt one of the children.

"Another group leader has a pacemaker fitted and, as he said, had he found it, we could be dealing with a fatality.

"Fortunately, I was just inches away from where it had landed so I could put it out quickly. I didn't think about it at the time, but I went stone cold when I sat down and realised what had happened."

Vicki believes the attack on the hall was pre-meditated.

She added: "The door is always kept locked because we have had problems with thugs in the past and I only open the door for the last 10 minutes so parents can get in.

"I heard this giggling sound, walked outside and saw them throw the bomb in. It was an ordeal I am glad the children didn't see what happened.

"Afterwards, there was this terrible sickly smell, which obviously from a massive amount of deodorant. It is the first time something like this has happened in the 30 years I have done this job."

Police are now concerned that trouble-making youths on the Brookfield estate have the knowledge to make the firebombs, the instructions for which are readily available on the internet.

A spokesman for Preston Police said: "We are looking into the incident but are concerned that children know how to make these devices.

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