TWO smoke bombs were put through letterboxes at homes in Farnworth today.

The terrified occupants called the fire brigade in the early hours when their smoke alarms went off.

The first bomb was put through a letterbox of the home of a disabled man in Ellesmere Walk at about 2.30am.

The second was the house of an Asian family in nearby Barnes Close at about 2.50am.

The householders were in bed at the time of the attacks.

The first smoke bomb did not activate, but the second did.

A man who has lived at his house in Barnes Close for 15 years said: "At first when we saw all the smoke coming from downstairs we thought the television had set on fire.

"We called the fire brigade straight away, who found that something had been put through the letterbox.

"I don't think it was a racial attack, as a similar incident happened at another home nearby and that man was white.

"This sort of thing is a problem all over Bolton. It is most likely to have been kids who were doing it.

"Their main aim is to disturb the people and it doesn't matter what race the people are.

"Parents need to be more responsible for their children and know where they are when they are out at the pub and then there would not be a problem."

The police have been informed and are investigating the incidents.

Watch Manager Bill Edwards, of Farnworth fire station, said: "The panic this caused for the families was immense.

"These mindless acts have caused a lot of distress and upset, the occupants were left very shook up.

"Fortunately no damage was caused to the properties."

The fire service are offering free fire risk assessments to any house in the Bolton borough. For more information contact your local fire station.

Anyone with any information about the incidents is asked to contact police on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.