YOUNG arsonists in East Lancashire are to meet firefighters face to face in a bid to stop them re-offending.

The programme is a collaboration between Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, youth offending teams, police and social services.

Youths aged 10 to 17-years-old convicted of arson offences are put on the programme after being sentenced by courts.

Senior firefighters said the initiative has been used 56 times already and repeat arson attacks are being prevented.

Lancashire's chief fire officer, Peter Holland will meet with representatives of Blackburn with Darwen's youth offending team later this month to sign a contract as part of the move to extend the programme across the county.

The problem was highlighted two years ago when teenage boys destroyed Gregson Lane Primary School in Hoghton after a blaze was started in a wheelie bin.

Sub Officer Chris Caton, of Fulwood, near Preston, where the scheme has been trialled, said a recent case highlighted the need for the course. "I interviewed two 15 year old boys who had started a fire in a block of flats. It was so severe there was smoke pouring out of windows on all 18 floors and the first firefighters in the scene were certain someone must have died in there. Miraculously no one had and firefighters brought all the residents out, even though some had to be taken to hospital."

He said the boys started a fire in a lift which soon burned out of control. Sub Officer Caton added: "They had no idea when they started the fire that it would have such a dreadful outcome.

"After they stepped out of the lift it was called to another floor, distributing the heat smoke and fumes to all parts of the building and starting a blaze which had an enormous capacity for destruction", he added.

The firefighter said he used his experience on the boys to try to bring home the consequences of what they had done and to explain the potentially lethal and devastating effect fire can have.

According to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service the courts are now recognising the value of the Young Offenders' Arson Programme and are making attendance on the course part of the sentences handed out to arsonists.

And Sub Officer Caton said the programme has worked. "Getting to understand why kids put us through this, how in the main arson is borne out of ignorance and, perhaps, thoughtless stupidity, but not wickedness, is central to why and how it works. We have certainly proved to our satisfaction and to our partnership organisations and the courts that it does work."