ARSONISTS left a deadly 'gas bomb' trap for firefighters after setting light to a derelict house.

Intruders entered the property in Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors, ignited separate fires in the kitchen and on the stairs, and then opened the valve on a large gas bottle in an understairs cupboard.

Today furious Accrington Fire Station Officer Mick Holmes said someone could easily have been killed.

He said: "We were faced with gas leaking into a confined space, a cylinder and a fire directly above it. One of my men could have died or been seriously injured."

The crew entered the building at about 9pm last night.

Fortunately, one officer who was assisting his colleagues, was not wearing a face mask and was able to raise the alarm after smelling the gas.

SO Holmes added: "Once a fire fighter is wearing a mask, he is completely cut off from the atmosphere around.

"There would have been no way of knowing that gas was present in the air. We were very lucky.

"The people who do this type of thing may think it a harmless prank. But it is an extremely serious and particularly dangerous thing to do to people who are going about their legal duty."

Police have been given the description of a person seen leaving the area.

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