POLICE are hunting for a cyclist firebomber after an attack on a west Wiltshire house.

A family-of-four were in bed at their home in Rutland Crescent, Trowbridge, in the early hours of Thursday morning when an incendiary device was thrown at a window by a passing cyclist.

The homemade device bounced off a double-glazed window and landed in the garden of a house next door, which then caught alight. A police spokesman said: "It was a very, very small fire, but it was then found it was caused by an inflammable material in a bottle.

"Incidences of this kind are fortunately few and far between but everyone must realise the potential damage that this could have caused.

"Someone, somewhere in Rutland Crescent must have seen this person on the bicycle or know who that person is and we would urge them to contact us urgently before someone is killed or seriously injured."

A police investigation into the incident has been launched and the bottle sent for forensic examination. There have been other reports of incidents in the same street and police have stepped up patrols in the area.

Local town and district councillor Graham Payne, who lives in nearby Dursley Road, said: "Residents are very concerned about these incidents that have happened and the police have been superb in the way they have handled the situation.

"Everyone hopes that following this latest incident of lunacy involving a petrol bomb, the whole area will settle down to normality."

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a young male on a bicycle in the area at about 12.05am on June 22 to contact them on 08454 087000 or 0800 555111.