PLAYING WITH FIRE

VANDALS set off a crate of industrial fireworks outside the home of Manchester United star Roy Keane.A neighbour of the player called police after hearing fireworks go off at 7.26am yesterday. Officers found the crate, which had an abusive message addressed to the player posted on the side, outside Keane's £1m-plus mansion at Hale, near Altrincham.

Firefighters were called and made the box and its contents safe.

It is not known whether the 33-year-old midfielder was home when the blast woke several residents in the up-market neighbourhood.

The incident happened just hours after United beat Tottenham 1-0 in London and three days after Keane appeared before magistrates accused of assaulting a 16-year-old youth near his home on September 4.

A spokesman said: “Fireworks were set off outside Roy Keane’s home and language of a racist and abusive nature was daubed on the crate. The disturbing message was directed at the footballer and our inquiries are continuing.”