Arsonists ‘went on the rampage’ overnight, starting six fires in less than three-and-a-half hours.

Three fire crews from Hyndburn and police were chasing the firebugs as they set alight garages, sheds, skips and wheelie bins within a 200-metre radius.

Hyndburn acting watch manage Lee Cook branded their actions ‘reckless’ and police are now searching for the culprits.

The first incident happened at around 10.45pm in Claret Street, Accrington, with reports of a skip and car on fire.

Rubbish in the skip had been set alight, but firefighters managed to stop it spreading to a car parked next to it.

Two minutes later another crew were sent to Higher Antley Street, Accrington, to deal with a wheelie bin fire up in flames in an alleyway.

At 12.45pm, again on Higher Antley Street and 50 yards away from the second incident, an empty dog kennel at the back of a derelict house was torched.

At 1.05am on Buxton Street, Accrington, a garage at another empty property was set on fire.

At this point, with the arson attacks increasing in seriousness and firefighters being given a similar description of two young men being seen close to each incident, police were called.

Despite officers ‘flooding the area’ according to watch manager Mr Cook, at 1.40am a wooden shed containing household furniture in the back garden of an occupied house in Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, was wrecked by fire.

Finally, at 2.10am, on Richmond Street, a wheelie bin was set alight.

Mr Cook said the arsonists had ‘gone on a rampage’ and investigators believed the same people were responsible for all the fires.

He said: “This was reckless endangerment of people’s lives, using up resources to put out these fires places residents of Hyndburn at risk if there’s an incident of a more serious nature.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said investigations were underway into tracing the suspects.

Call Accrington Police on 0845 1 253545.