16054/3AN ESTATE plagued by a series of arson attacks has been hit by three more fires, just hours after residents turned out to try and fireproof the area.

A serial arsonist is believed to have been active on the Seymour estate in Trowbridge for over six months, with 19 fires reported since May, including the three at the weekend.

In the latest attacks three wheelie bins were set alight in the Charles Street area in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incidents happened just hours after the fire brigade helped residents clear up the estate in the hope of removing flammable materials.

Station officer Ade Hurren, from Wiltshire Fire Brigade, said: "We are very disappointed these incidents happened the night after the clear-up.

"We want to cut down on the number of deliberate fires on the estate and

one of the things we have done is remove combustible materials left around that make it easier for someone to light a fire.

"Unfortunately picking up rubbish isn't going to stop people, just make it a bit harder, and there is nothing we can do about wheelie bins, which are going to be there."

The police have stepped up patrols on the estate since the attacks began in the hope of catching the culprit in the act.

Sgt Simon Bettles, of Trowbridge police, said: "This is being actively investigated and intelligence is being gathered."The fires on the estate have mainly been lit in wheelie bins but signs and fences have also been set alight. In June a jeep was set alight in a garden at Charles Street.

Town councillor Tom James, who lives in Charles Street, said: "Someone must know who is doing this and they need to think about coming forward because the potential repercussions of this are absolutely enormous.

"It may be in the road this time but that leads to a gate then that leads to a front door and that is terrifying."

The Wiltshire Times joined forces with the fire brigade and police in distributing 500 leaflets on the estate in June, in an effort to help householders reduce the risk of fire and to tell them what to do if they have information relevant to the police.

Anyone with information on the fires can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.