A mother and her three young children are living in terror after two petrol bomb attacks on their home in a week.

The family were lucky to escape unhurt after a burning milk bottle crashed through a bedroom window as they slept early yesterday.

Exactly a week before, a home-made petrol bomb set fire to the back door of their home in Washington Street, Girlington, Bradford.

Julie Wakefield, 32, lives in the terraced property with her two-year-old daughter Kylie and two sons Stephen, 10, and Kevin, 12. She said: "We are frightened for our lives. The kids are scared to go to sleep for fear of being burned in their bed.''

Detectives fear someone could be killed in the attacks. They are appealing for witnesses to the incidents and have carried out house-to-house inquiries in a bid to catch the culprits.

Miss Wakefield said: "The vandalism began a couple of months ago. The windows were being smashed with stones. It happened again and again, almost as quickly as we could repair them.

"Then last week the petrol bombings started. The first one came through the bedroom window where my two sons normally sleep.

"The house has been cold because of the smashed windows so they were sleeping in my room that night. I heard the bang and saw an orange flash.

"The bedspread was on fire and me and my boyfriend managed to smother the flames before calling the fire brigade.

"It's pure luck that no one has been injured. Whoever is doing this please leave us alone - there are kids in the house for goodness sake!"

Police believe the burning objects may have been thrown from an alleyway joining Washington Street with St Leonard's Road.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Sedgwick, of Toller Lane CID, said: "We are extremely concerned about the incidents, particularly because there are young children in the house.

"We are mystified as to the motive. They may be doing it to frighten the family, but could end up killing somebody."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Toller Lane CID on Bradford 376285.

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