A FAMILY escaped serious injury when a petrol bomb was thrown at their home.

Two children were asleep upstairs in the house in Westwood Court, Blackburn, when the attackers struck at about 2.45am yesterday.

Their father, Mr Abdul Musa, said: "I can't believe this has happened to us. We fall out with neighbours like anybody else, but have never had any problems like this.

"I was in the living room when I heard the blast, and ran upstairs to see if I could see anybody, but they had gone. Luckily the children didn't wake up and didn't know anything about it until this morning. I am upset this has happened, and would like the culprits to be found."

The blaze which resulted from the bomb was confined to the entrance of the house, and was put out before the fire brigade arrived. Neighbours who saw two youths running away in the direction of Florence Street are helping police with their enquiries.

The suspects are described as white males, both in their 20's. One was 5ft 6ins tall, wearing a white baseball cap, orange thigh length jacket and dark trousers or jeans.

His accomplice was slightly smaller, with a slim build and dark shoulder length hair, and wearing a light coloured baseball cap, a silver bubble-style jacket and dark trousers or jeans.

Inspector Richard Cox, of Blackburn police, said: "We have interviewed the victims and a neighbour who witnessed the incident and are keeping an open mind on the motives for the attack."

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