POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a gang of rampaging arsonists set fire to wheelie bins and a post box.

Firefighters and police were called to the series of midnight blazes on Tuesday at Wigan Road, Siddeley Street and Clifton Street after youths set fire to seven wheelie bins and a post box.

Two fire crews spent 45 minutes controlling the fires.

A spokesman for Leigh Fire Station branded the vandals "stupid" and said: "They kept two crews from attending other calls. Residents had left their wheelie bins out on Tuesday night to be emptied, and these idiots caused so much mindless destruction and mess to the streets."

Witnesses to events which happened between 11.45pm and 12.25am should contact Crimestoppers on 0800555111.