A NUMBER of suspicious fires in the city are being investigated by police. 

The occupant of a property on Hawksridge woke up and noticed flames coming from the garden shed at about 1am on Saturday, April 22. 

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire.

Substantial damage was caused to the shed and items inside.

At 10pm the next day (Sunday 23 April) a pile of rubbish was set alight in Friary Lane which caused damage to a nearby parked car.

And just before 1am the following morning police were called to a report of a further fire at a bin store in the same area.

In another incident a swing was burnt out in the play park of Churchill Gardens. It is believed to have happened sometime between April 17 and 24. 

PC Rachel Gunn said: "Fortunately no one was injured in any of these incidents however the outcome could have been very different if the fires had spread.

"We are treating all four incidents as suspicious as we believe they were deliberate acts. We are working with our colleagues at Wiltshire Fire and Rescue and encourage anyone with information to come forward."

Anyone with information regarding any of the fires is asked to contact PC Rachel Gunn at Bourne Hill Police Station on 101.

Altenatively, call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 where details may be left anonymously if preferred.