Arson attacks on four bins in Telford
Police have launched an investigation after four wheelie and recycling bins were set alight within 20 minutes in a flurry of suspected arson attacks.
Firefighters were called out to two incidents in Delbury Court, Hollinswood and one in Dalford Court, Hollinswood, last night.
Chris Ammonds, spokesman for Telford police, said they are now investigating whether the incidents are connected but say they are keeping an open mind.
Fire crews from Telford Central received the first call at around 7pm to a wheelie bin and a recycling bin in Delbury Court.
At 7.15pm another call came through of a bin fire in Dalford Court involving a metal recycling bin. Firefighters then tackled a fire in a communal wheelie bin in Delbury Court at 7.20pm.
Mr Ammonds said: “The Police and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams are looking into these.
“Obviously there is the possibility that they were all connected but we are keeping an open mind.”
Derek Taylor, a fire crime officer in the risk reduction team for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We want to highlight the dangers of people starting fires in wheelie bins after three fires were started in a short space of time.
“It can set fire to a property putting lives at risk or leading to people being evacuated because of smoke.
“We are working with the police and Wrekin Housing Trust, which owns properties down there, to try to reduce the risk.”