ARSONISTS set alight a car and started nine other deliberate fires across Blackpool town centre on Sunday.

The fires were all within a few hours of each other and most involved large rubbish bins and bags of rubbish being deliberately set ablaze.

One incident also involved the burning of a car which was parked inside a garage at Waverly Avenue, Bispham, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and the garage.

Another of the incidents involved the setting alight of newspapers inside a large paper-recycling skip. This fire was attended by two fire engines and took one hour to extinguish.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Deliberate fires and hoax calls are a severe drain on fire service resources and cause damage to property and can cost lives. Fire engines are often delayed to other real fires because of these calls."

Members of the public can help prevent arson by contacting the Arson Hotline on (0800) 555 111. Calls are free and confidential and can sometimes lead to a financial reward.