Mr Geoffrey Williams (70) received a call from his daughter at 2-50 a.m. on Saturday to say sheds at his allotment in Quarry Street were ablaze.

Two fire engines from Padiham fire station were deployed to tackle the fire, which involved six wooden sheds housing the animals. Around 80 surviving birds from a neighbouring shed to safety as police were called in to investigate.

Mr Williams said it is not the first time it has been targeted. "I've had this allotment for 50 years but in the last five years I've had four fires here." he said.

Mr Williams said the last incident, in November 2006, forced him to spend £16,000 on repairs. "People think pigeons aren't expensive but the ones that died were all from the continent, mostly Belgium and Holland.

"They were very expensive, you can't replace them. They were all the stock birds used for breeding. I don't think the ones that survived will last long because of the smoke. They are all coughing and spluttering.

"Whoever did it would have known there were animals in the sheds, it is obvious."