A family say they no longer feel safe in their home after it was targeted in the latest in a series of arson attacks.

A fuel canister attached to a flaming rag was thrown was thrown through the window of Phillip Kenrick’s family home on Lodge Street in Accrington on Sunday.

The family escaped unharmed, but police believe the attack could be linked to four arson attacks which took place in Accrington in December and January – all on Sunday mornings.

Mr Kenrick, his partner and her 21-month-old daughter were woken after hearing a window smash.

When they came downstairs, Mr Kenrick said he spotted the canister on the kitchen floor and threw a pan of water over it before calling the police.

Philip, 33, said the family were looking for somewhere else to live.

He said: “I don’t know why it’s happened to us. I was shaken up to my eyeballs. We don’t sleep very well now and are worried it could happen again.”

Detectives have launched an investigation and believe it could be connected to number of arsons in the area, which have all occurred on Sunday mornings.

Former Rhyddings and Woodnook primary school pupil Phillip said they are now looking to move house following the ‘unprovoked attack’.

Phillip, 33, said: “We have only been living here since March. In January this same property had something pushed through the letter box and set on fire which damaged the vestibule.

“It could’ve been a lot worse.

“Now I’m in the process of looking for somewhere else to live as I don’t feel safe here anymore.

“We are trying to get back to normality but it’s really hard. It was totally unprovoked. It’s just lucky we are all safe and sound.”

Map showing where the first four arsons took place

Phillip, who used to work as a manager at Burger King, said the incident happened at around 7.30am on Sunday, August 30 and came as a ‘big shock to the system’.

He said: “I thought what happened in January was a one-off. Nothing like this has happened to us before then.

“We are just a normal family and wanting to get on with our lives. We don’t feel safe around here.

“I grew up in this area and my mum lives only a few streets away. I always thought this area was nice and peaceful but it seems to have changed over the years.

“Someone is going round doing it for fun but at what expense? They don’t think about endangering lives.”

Ward councillor Joyce Plummer said it is a ‘big concern’ for residents in the area.

She said: “There doesn’t seem to be any reason or connection as to why this is happening. Thankfully nobody was seriously hurt but it needs to stop as they might not always get away without any injuries.”

Detectives described the attempted arson as an ‘extremely sinister crime’.

They have launched an investigation and have increased patrols in the area.

DS Ben Hodgkinson, of Blackburn CID, said: “This was an extremely sinister crime and very frightening for the family involved, particularly as they have a young child.

“They were extremely lucky to reach the canister before it set on fire and caused potentially serious damage.

“We are still trying to determine why this family have been targeted in this way and whether it is linked to other similar incidents that occurred earlier this year in the same area.

“We are increasing patrols in the vicinity and if you have any concerns, please do raise them with your local neighbourhood policing team.

“I am determined to find who was responsible and so if you have any information about this or previous incidents, please get in contact with us as soon as possible before this person/ people potentially try this again.”

All of the incidents have occurred on Sunday mornings.

 The first happened on December 21, 2014 when a small fire was set underneath a vehicle on Avenue Parade.

 A week later on December 28, accelerant was poured through the letterbox of a house Manor Street causing a fire.

 The third incident happened on January 4 this year when accelerant was poured through the house on Lodge Street before being set alight.

 A flammable liquid was also poured into a vacant property on Marsden Street and set alight on January 11.