VEHICLE owners spoke of their fright after two cars were set ablaze within one hour of each other on the Farnworth and Kearsley border.

Fire crews from Farnworth turned out to two vehicle fires in the early hours of Monday morning that were just a four-minute walk apart.

At about 4.30am, firefighters were called to Lord Street, Farnworth, where a red Volkswagen Lupo was well alight.

Just 50 minutes later, they turned out to Park View, Kearsley, where another car had gone up in flames.

The Volkswagen, which is expected to be written off, belongs to 21-year-old Tyler Liptrott who had owned the vehicle for three years.

Mum Dina Raw said: "We've seen the man who did it on our CCTV. It was started deliberately. He came across the grass, through the bushes and directly out. He bent down at the side of the car, set the car alight and then left. It is not fair that people just go around doing things like this.

"It is just really frightening because it was so close to the house. You don't know if it's going to blow up. Luckily it didn't.

"It was a neighbour who called the fire brigade and then phoned us. He heard a noise outside and saw smoke coming from behind the garage. He saw the car on fire and called the fire brigade, then called my partner.

"The fire crews were here quickly and the police have also been. The other car fire happened just after this."

The second vehicle — a white Toyota Verso — was set on fire in Park View, Kearsley at about 5.20am.

Residents have raised concerns about the two incidents in an area which suffered a spate of car fires in 2010 and 2011, which caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage over several months and put lives at risk.

Resident Linda Burton, of Park View, said: "We had a spate of car fires about 12 years ago. That was put down as arson. They targeted the car next door and ours went up with it.

"We were very lucky this time. Our car was parked very close to the vehicle that was on fire.

"Mine is a brand new car. We were worried in case it was going to spread. Our neighbour's car is a right mess. There were huge flames. They were very upset."

Crews used breathing apparatus and hose reels to put the fires out, and remained in attendance about both scenes for just over 30 minutes.

Farnworth watch manager Paul Harrison said: "The entire cars were burnt out in both cases.

"Both incidents seemed deliberate. They were very similar, and only about 500 metres apart.

"We would urge the public to remain vigilant. It is unusual to have two car fires so close together."

He added: "The owners of both vehicles have been made aware, and the information has been passed to police."

Greater Manchester Police has been approached for a comment.