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A PENSIONER has spoken of her terror after her home was targeted in an arson attack.

Firefighters were called to a house in the Padiham Road area of Burnley just after midnight after a wooden shed belonging to Dorothy Higgin was set alight.

Mrs Higgin, 88, raised the alarm after the fire spread to piping fixed to the outside of her house, causing the rooms to become smoke-logged.

Speaking after the fire, Mrs Higgin, who has lived alone since her son's death in 2000, said she felt very angry' about being targeted.

And police said that they were investigating the cowardly attack', which could have had ended up injuring Mrs Higgin.

The fire at Mrs Higgin's house came two hours after firefighters tackled a blaze at nearby Temple Motors where a LDV Convoy minibus had been set alight in the compound.

Police said that the arsonists had used newspaper to set fire to Mrs Higgin's shed, shortly after midnight yesterday (Wed).

Mrs Higgin, who was a clerical worker for an ammunitions base in Weighbridge during the Second World War, said she had not had any problems with youths in the past.

She added: "I was very shocked when it happened. I called the fire brigade straight away.

"Of course I am angry about what happened but what can you do.

"The shed had cleaning things and a step ladder so it was not expensive but it was important."

The shed, which was provided by the NHS, was used to keep the her son David's dialysis equipment before he died eight years ago, aged 55, due to kidney complications.

Sgt Phil Carter, from Burnley Police, said: "Someone set fire to newspapers and this resulted in the shed being completely destroyed by the fire.

"We are investigating the fire as arson.

"We are treating it as a potentially serious offence where an 88-year-old lady living alone could have been injured.

"The fire could easily have spread and we could have been looking at a more serious incident.

"It was a cowardly attack and anyone who saw anything should contact us."

Peter Ashworth, the watch manager from Burnley Fire Station, said: "The lady was very frightened.

"Unfortunately, the people who do these things don't know the consequences of their actions.

"A lot of smoke had got into the property and she was very shaken up."

In October last year police launched a crackdown on problems with youths in the nearby Ighten Hill area and parts of Gannow, where Mrs Higgin's house is located.

Police used dispersal orders to stop the youths, who were gathering in groups of around 120, terrorising the neighbourhoods.

The move had the backing of residents and councillors.

Coun Charlie Briggs, who covers Gannow ward, said the area was normally quiet and he had not heard of there being a problem with youths in the area.

He said: "I am absolutely shocked that someone could intentionally target a pensioner.

"There has been a lot of trouble around the Tim Bobbin area down to anti-social behaviour due to underage drinking.

"We have also got some alley gates in some of the streets which are locked and only the residents have access to them to stop people congregating and causing trouble."

11:16pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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