'Arsonists' strike again near Leavesden Country Park (From Watford Observer)

'Arsonists' strike again near Leavesden Country Park

11:20am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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Another suspected arson attack was reported near Leavesden Country Park last night – the latest in a string of deliberate fires in the area.

Firefighters were called to College Road, near Abbots Langley, at about 10pm, when a bin was set ablaze.

The fire was quickly brought under control and nobody was injured.

The blaze follows a series of other deliberate blazes in the area.

Two barns were destroyed in fields off Langley Lodge Lane in just eight days last month. The attacks, on August 10 and August 2.

More than £2,000 of hay, meanwhile, was destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday morning in fields off High Elms Lane, Abbots Langley.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said arson was treated very seriously. She explained: "Arson is extremely dangerous. It puts lives and property at risk and costs the county about £17 million a year.

"It is a criminal offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

"While our crews are dealing with arson incidents they are diverted away from other emergencies and community safety work.

"Our message is simple - we will not tolerate arson in Hertfordshire and we will continue to work with our partners to stamp it out."