THREE 13-year-old boys have been arrested after a couple’s home was torched with a firework on the day they moved in.

The teenagers were held in custody by Burnley police after an incident in Robinson Street, Daneshouse.

Three crews and 15 firefighters were called to contain the blaze, which started when a firework was pushed through a letterbox.

Neighbours said a group of around 15 children had gathered on the street after leaving a nearby mosque on Monday night.

Steve Harrison, watch manager at Burnley fire station said it was ‘a particularly reckless act’.

Arshad Mahmood, of Robinson Street, said he called police to report anti-social behaviour around 7.20pm, before the firework went off.

Mr Mahmood, 51, said: “I’m just glad nobody was inside. This group of lads were running up and down the street from the mosque.

“There were about 12 to 15 kids, I couldn’t see who they were because it was so dark.

“At first I thought they were just messing about and then I heard the bang.”

Roger Iddon, who lives next door to the house targeted, said a young couple had moved their belongings in only that afternoon. Mr Iddon, 54, said: “I took the dog out for a walk down Colne Road about 7.20pm.

“There had been a bit of an altercation further along the street just before that and by the time I came back all I could see was smoke.

“I thought it was my house.

“I had a banger pushed through the door last year.” The terrace home, which suffered severe fire damage on the ground floor, is owned by the Briercliffe Road-based RPC Letting Agency.

A maintenance worker, 42-year-old Sheikh Mohammed, attended the property yesterday morning to take measurements and plan repairs.

He praised residents in the street who alerted the emergency services.

He added: “They were good citizens for calling straight away and keeping any damage to a minimum.

“It proves there is good community spirit here but the law is allowing kids to run wild.

“How does a kid get hold of fireworks?”

Two of the boys were questioned on suspicion of arson while the third was arrested in connection with threatening to destroy or damage property in a manner likely to endanger life.