POLICE and fire brigade bosses are appealing for information after two homes were targeted by vandals.

Lit pieces of paper were posted through the letterboxes of houses in Samsung Place and Thornton Close, in Newton Aycliffe, overnight on Thursday.

The owners of the home in Thornton Close were asleep upstairs at the time.

When they woke up at 6.45am the next day, they discovered a hole had been scorched in the carpet behind the door where the paper had burned out.

In the second incident, which happened about 1am on Friday morning, the blaze spread to the hallway of an end terrace house in Samsung Place.

The occupants were out at the time and two anonymous callers contacted the police and fire brigade to report seeing flames.

It is thought an accelerant, such as petrol, was used.

Ken Dixon, station manager at Newton Aycliffe fire station, condemned the attacks as "thoughtless and dangerous".

He said: "Even though the fires weren't serious, the incidents themselves were.

"Luckily, everyone was okay but it could easily have been a life-threatening situation.

"We work really hard in communities and schools to raise awareness about fire prevention and the dangers of anti-social behaviour-type fires.

"Apart from the real danger they pose, callouts to them also keep us away from prevention exercises and emergency calls to accidental fire and road accidents."

He also reminded householders to check smoke alarms were installed in their homes and working.

Inspector Gordon Scott, of Newton Aycliffe police station, said the same people could be responsible for both incidents, as the two addresses were close to each other and both happened overnight on Thursday.

He said: "The incidents cause great concern to me, it could easily have been much worse.

"We want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed something that could help and would urge the anonymous callers to get in touch as they could have important information."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0845 606 0365.