POLICE have been asked to investigate an incident in Trowbridge in which a mattress was set on fire in the street.

The incident took place close to The Crown public house in Timbrell Street on Monday afternoon, outraging local residents who filmed it.

Trowbridge fire crews were called out to extinguish the fire. The mattress was destroyed.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We were called to York Buildings in Trowbridge at around 5.20pm on Monday due to a mattress being set alight.

“Nobody was injured and the fire was extinguished by the fire service.”

A Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "We received a call on Monday at 17:08 with reports of a fire in the open on York Buildings.

"One crew from Trowbridge attended and on arrival found a mattress well alight in the street.

"Crews used one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire and the stop message came through at 17:14." The fire crews remained at the scene until 5.25pm.

Residents who videoed the incident have urged police to act against the person responsible.

One local said: “The police have already been informed and video will be shown when they get in touch with all us Timbrell Street residents. We all know who did it.”

Another resident said: “With the high winds today this could have very easily have spread quickly and got totally out of control.

“Of course the emergency services were called and it was quickly dealt with but you’ve wasted their time.”