VEHICLES in Burnley and Padiham were targeted in a spate of suspected arson attacks in the early hours..

One blaze, believed to have been set in a Mercedes van just after 3am today in Stockbridge Road, Padiham, spread to a car, with heat from the flames damaging a nearby house. Both vehicles were burned out.

At 11.20pm yesterday, Burnley firefighters were called out to a van on fire in Accrington Road, and later to a further van fire in Tiverton Drive, Padiham.

Just after 4am, two fire crews from Padiham attended another vehicle on fire in Stockbridge Road, Padiham.

A spokesman for Burnley fire station said: "It was a very busy night for both us and Padiham and it does appear that all these fires were set deliberately.

"We are now working with the police to establish if they are linked."