RESIDENTS have called for action after a street suffered its 66th arson attack of the year.

A derelict mill and a stricken row of terrace homes in Spring Street, Rishton, have been branded the ‘worst in East Lancashire’.

Councillors and residents said something must be done to ensure that the vandalism and damage was halted at the stretch of 11 homes, many of which have no roof and all are boarded up.

On Wednesday night, smoke could be seen across Church and Accrington following a tyre blaze at the former Brittania Mill, which backs on to the properties.

It followed an incident on December 3 that saw a large caravan torched near the mill, and another rubbish blaze in one of the houses just days earlier.

Hyndburn Borough Council has made an order for the houses to be either be repaired or demolished.

They have held meetings with the owners but nothing has happened.

The authority said the state of the properties had now deteriorated to such a degree that they were dangerously unsafe.

Coun Moss, who lives in nearby Bridge Street, said: “The callouts for the fire service to this street are incessant.

“The incidents are affecting the whole area, not just Spring Street. It has reached the stage where it is dragging down the town.

“There are other areas of Hyndburn that are in urgent need of intervention but no other road has the issues with arson that face Spring Street.”

A spokesman for Hyndburn Borough Council said: “Notice has been served under the Building Act that the properties must be either demolished, or be repaired.

“The situation is such that we are not prepared to let it continue any longer.

“The council’s intentions are clear. This area must be improved.”