Appeal for witnesses to arson attack which forced two families to abandon their homes

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Detectives appeal for witnesses to arson attack which forced two families to abandon their homes on Leander Drive

Detectives in Rochdale are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack which forced two families to abandon their homes.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/101333/arson-investigation-after-fire-damages-houses-in-castleton

At around 1.15am on 26 February 2016, an unknown offender or offenders set light to a wheelie bin outside an address on Leander Drive, Castleton.

The fire spread to a nearby car and then to an adjoining house, causing extensive damage to the property and forcing the occupants of both houses to flee the flames.

The car was written off and the damage to the house is likely to run into the tens of thousands of pounds to repair.

Shortly afterwards, another wheelie bin was set alight on Albion Road, around 500m away from Leander Drive.

No damage was caused on that occasion, but officers believe this fire was started by the same offender.

Detective Constable James Donnelly said: “We are taking this arson attack very seriously indeed, as only sheer luck has prevented injury or loss of life.

“Setting fire to wheelie bins might not appear to be the worst crime in the world, but make no mistake these arson attacks can have serious consequences.

“What would have happened to these families had they not been alerted that their houses were on fire?

“We could quite easily have been dealing with fatalities.

“I would like to appeal for any witnesses who may have been in the Castleton and Blue Pit area at around 1am on the morning of the 26th February.

“If you saw anyone in the area at the time, or anything at all suspicious, please contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 260216/106 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.