THE owner of a car targeted in an arson attack said he has been left shaken by the incident.

Mark Critchley, aged 45, was one of two residents who had their cars set alight on Friday evening, in the back of Chorley Old Road.

The cars, a Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Golf, were set alight at about midnight in what firefighters said was a “deliberate attack”.

Mr Critchley, a father-of-12, said: “It was the noise of the fire brigade that I heard at first.

“I was just watching a film with my children and my son shouted that there was a car on fire.

“I didn’t think for one second it would be mine, but then he ran in panicking and said ‘it’s our car on fire’.

The rear window of the car was smashed in the attack and the back seat set alight.

Another car, a Volkswagen Golf parked meters away, was also targeted and it is understood that the arsonist stuffed paper in the wheel arches to intensify the fire.

Ian Wilkes, aged 57, of nearby Meliden Crescent, said: “I heard a bang and at first thought it was a firework but now I have been told that it was the sound of the glass on the cars breaking.

“It is shocking.”

Mr Critchley, who has a son with learning difficulties, said being without a car is a nightmare.

He said: “It has really hit us hard, it is like losing an arm for us.

“I can’t get my son to places and my other two sons play for Wigan Athletic and I drive them around a lot for training and games.

“It really couldn’t have come at a worse time for us.

“It has really shaken me up. I have struggled to sleep since it happened.”

Mr Critchley added that he did not know why someone would pick on him or his neighbours.

He said: “We all keep ourselves to ourselves.

“It is just crazy that this has happened.

“It is normally a very quiet street which is why I think it has shocked everyone so much.”

It is understood firefighters were alerted after a member of Smithills and Heaton Conservative Club left to have a cigarette.

Mr Critchley said: “We were lucky that the club was having a function because, if someone hadn’t seen the fires, the whole side of the house could have been caught up in it and the car was parked just under my daughter’s bedroom window.”

Crew manager Phil Dearden, of Bolton Central Fire Station, said the case had been passed to the police to investigate. Anyone with information should call 101.