A WHEELIE bin cleaner says an arson attack on his van could have put his job and his family at risk.

Arsonists smashed a window of Dennis Atkinson's Ford Transit, which was parked at his home in St Bede's Close, Thornley, County Durham, and threw in two petrol bombs at about 8am on Saturday.

Luckily, his wife, Linda, was awake and heard the vehicle's alarm go off, and the couple were able to put out the fire with a garden hose before it did too much damage.

Firefighters were called but the blaze was out when they arrived on the scene.

Mr Atkinson, who has been cleaning wheelie bins for five years, said he will be unable to pursue his business for at least the next few days while he repairs his van.

"They could have destroyed my livelihood if we hadn't got to the flames in time. I don't think they realise the consequences it could have had," he said.

He said the van was parked in front of a car that was only one foot from the house, and the fire could have spread first to the car and then the house, putting the family at risk.

Mr Atkinson, who said he thought the culprits used a footpath and allotments at the back of the house to escape, said he had no idea why his van had been targeted.

He added that he would not be able to carry out his work until he could fit a new passenger side door to the van.

Police are investigating and scenes of crime officers have been searching for forensic evidence.