14311/1GAZETTE & HERALD: CANCER Research in Chippenham is being forced to dig deep after an arson attack on the charity destroyed a wheelie bin, two windows and 15 bags of donations.

The total cost of the attack last Wednesday night is still to be calculated, but the money needed to replace the property must come out of the charity's own funds. A bin alone can cost up to £400.

The same firebug is believed to be responsible for two other successive arson attacks in the town centre on the same evening.

The blaze was the most serious of the three attacks and watch manager for Chippenham Fire Brigade Dave Jacomb said there was real potential for a more serious incident.

If the fire brigade had not attended so rapidly, the flames could have set alight to the building, he said.

Viv Minshull, who has been manager at Cancer Research since June, said: "We're trying to work for the charity and people give such generous donations, but now it means so much extra work to try and clear it up. I'm livid, really cross. It's so senseless.

"We will have to use charity funds from our budget, which would be going to cancer research, to replace the windows and bin."

The wheelie bin,which was packed with rubbish, was in the alleyway behind Cancer Research when it was set alight at about 6.25pm.

Mrs Minshull added: "It's very sad. "Luckily the fire brigade managed to put the fire out before it got to the building. If it had been any later and there were no witnesses around, it could have been a lot worse.

"I'm very disappointed that people are capable of doing such a thing. It's thoughtless. The fire's damaged the back of the shop and china and clothes ready to be brought in were destroyed.

"I expect the vandals thought they were rubbish bags."

In a separate incident, a wall has to be replaced in Done Bookmakers, Market Place, after combustible materials were pushed through a letterbox there at 6.15pm.

Manager of the Done Bookmakers Glinys Smith described the letterbox as an old night safe behind the wall.

"The rubbish got stuck there so the wall had to be removed for firefighters to extinguish the flames," she said.

"We realised something was wrong when smoke started coming out from the lights on the ceiling and through the partition walls.

"Luckily we were here so we could call the fire brigade."

The arsonist also targeted a bin in Monkton Park, at 5.45pm, before moving into town.

Spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council, Paul Langcaster said: " ."

Calls to the three separate incidents were received within minutes of each other, which tied up crews from Chippenham and Corsham and over 15 firefighters.

This meant there was no immediate fire cover for the Chippenham area during this time.

Wiltshire Fire Brigade is extremely concerned about the increasing amount of arson attacks since February this year and said people need to realise that arson is a criminal offence and the perpetrators will be caught and prosecuted.

Mr Jacomb said: "We take this sort of series of fires happening in close proximity to each other very seriously and as a result the fire brigade will be distributing a letter to local shops and businesses on ways they can help prevent this type of arson.

"We promote fire safety all the time but, if there is an outbreak of arson, we work with the police to advise people on how to help to stop it, like not leaving their rubbish outside and to refrain from leaving wheelie bins close to houses."

Arson is responsible for two deaths a week and the police are appealing for anyone who sees anything suspicious to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Chippenham police on (01249) 654455.