FIRE chiefs are appealing for help after crews were called out to a spate of deliberate blazes within minutes of each other.

Eleven arson attacks were launched over the weekend when firebugs set light to rubbish next to residents' homes across Morecambe.

In one incident on Sunday evening, a sleeping toddler cheated death when a stack of bins behind flats on Benson Avenue was torched and smoke started to pour through windows.

Concern is growing within the fire brigade about the escalating number of fires in the area - with fears that lives could be lost.

"It may be the work of a small group of arsonists who will inevitably increase the risk to life of members of the community as they seek a bigger kick from their activities," says leading fire fighter Tim Murrell.

"These fires have the potential to spread to property and, as a result, the police and fire service are treating the matter seriously and asking for the help of the public."

Following last Sunday's fire, crews discovered a second rubbish fire behind a house on Windermere Avenue, which badly damaged a nearby shed.

Arsonists also struck on Altham Road, targeting a bin placed under a window at the rear of a house, damaging a plastic window frame and a service intake.

The attacks continued into the early hours of Monday when a Mazda 323 was ignited in an alleyway on Beecham Street, followed by attacks on a skip on Whitegate, on grass behind Threshfield Avenue and rubbish on Langridge way.

Earlier, the brigade attended five fires close to each other within an hour on Saturday. Damage was caused to a large wheelie bin at Blockbuster on Central Drive while heat and smoke effected its storage compound.

There were three blazes in back-alleys on West End Road, Westminster Road and Claremont Road, where a mattress was ignited and flames caused severe damage to a roof.

* Anyone with information is asked to call Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.