Suspected arson attacks in Telford spark warning from fire service

Four times this week crews have atten-ded fires in Oakengates that appear to have been started deliberately.

Fire crime officer Derek Taylor has now appealed to the public to help catch the culprits.

He said: “We have had four arson incidents in the Oakengates area of Telford this week where a skip, paper bank, wheelie bin and a tree have been set on fire during the early hours of the morning.

“We are asking the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

Mr Taylor said there were precautions members of the public could take to protect themselves and others from arson attacks.

These include putting out wheelie bins for collection as near to collection time as possible – and especially not overnight – keeping the bins at least six metres away from properties and locking garages and sheds.

Two separate incidents in Oakengates were reported about an hour apart early yesterday morning.

In the first, a wheelie bin was set on fire at Oakengates Medical Practice, in Limes Walk, at about 12.10am, and an hour later, a fire engine was called to a fire involving a large tree in Kensington Way.

On Tuesday, a paper bank near SJ Homestores in Market Street was set on fire at about 5.30am, and an hour later a skip was set alight in nearby Slaney Street.