TWO houses were petrol bombed in the space of three hours over the weekend.

Police are investigating the arson attacks on a property in Townside Row, Bury, at 11.50pm on Saturday and a property in Mather Street, Radcliffe, at 2.35am on Sunday.

Although both houses were empty, two cats died when the house in Mather Street was targeted and three kittens were rescued.

Fire crews were alerted to the fire at Townside Row by neighbours who saw flames and smoke billowing from a downstairs window.

It is believed wooden boarding on one of the windows had been ripped off and a petrol bomb hurled into the front room.

At 2.35am, firefighters arrived in Mather Street after reports that the terraced house was ablaze.

It is believed a window was smashed before a petrol bomb was thrown inside.

Firefighters found the two dead cats which had suffocated in the smoke.