A MAN has blasted hooligans who sent a firework shooting into his kitchen and almost burned his house down.

Gordon Mellody, 40, got the shock his life when the device came hurtling into his house from an outlet pipe for a washing machine.

Stunned Gordon, of Delph Lane, Audley, Blackburn, said the firework exploded and set alight lace curtains, which were in a washing basket at the other end of the pipe.

The Blackburn with Darwen council worker had to use saucepans full of water to douse the flames and his kitchen was left smoke-logged and damaged.

He said: "There have been young children playing with fireworks in this area for the last week and it's disgraceful how easily they can get their hands on them.

"I'm partially deaf and had I been upstairs when the firework went off I would have just thought it was outside.

"I don't have a washing machine at the moment and the firework just shot through into the house. I was very fortunate to be in at the time. I only came home early to watch Deep Space Nine on the television. When I heard the bang I thought it was a special effect from the programme.

"If I had not come home early I am sure the house would have burnt to a shell."

Trading Standards officials say they have been pleased with shopkeepers in East Lancashire who are refusing to sell fireworks to children.

A new law prohibits their sale to people under 18 and officers recently sent in children to test traders.

Out of the 40 shops visited, only two shopkeepers in the Burnley area face prosecution.

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