RESIDENTS have spoken of their anger and fear after bins were torched outside their homes on three nights in five days.

The recycling bins were set alight outside Incommunities block of flats at 104 Festival Avenue in Shipley early in the morning of Friday, November 1, and Monday, November 4, and nearby at 6 Owlet Road on Tuesday, November 5.

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The bins were near the entrance to the blocks and residents said they were afraid the fires could spread.

One nearby resident said: “People are scared. It’s not fair.

“Nobody’s doing now’t about it.

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“I don’t think the people who are doing it realise what could happen.”

She said when the first incident happened, she thought it might be something to do with someone who lived in the block but then two more fires were set on later nights.

She thinks it is probably down to youths just wanting to do something.

Residents posted pictures of one of the fires and the aftermath of another on Facebook.

Another resident said: “Me and my daughter slept through it, I’m glad in a way as she would have been terrified.

“We only discovered what had happened this morning on leaving for work and school and a neighbour then telling us about the fire brigade arriving at 4am this morning.

“I don’t know who called them but thank you to whoever did, it could have been a whole lot worse otherwise."

“I’m not sure if police have been called, but I did report it to Incommunities and they are going to look into it and get the mess cleared up ASAP.

“Fingers crossed no more incidents.”

A neighbour said it was pretty frightening.

An Incommunities spokesperson said: “We are very concerned by these reports of deliberately started bin fires over the last few days and are thankful that no one has been injured.

“We are liaising with the Police and West Yorkshire Fire Service over these incidents and are aware the police are making extra reassurance calls in the area.

“Our Estate services have been out to clear debris at Festival Avenue and have also been made aware of two incidents at Owlet Road. We have been in contact with the residents concerned and are looking at providing replacement general waste bins as soon as possible. Our Repairs team are also arranging to carry out appropriate repairs.

“We urge anyone who has any information about those responsible or see any suspicious activity to contact 999 straightaway.”

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that Shipley firefighters were called out to reports of fires at 3.03am on November 1 in Festival Avenue; at 4.26am on November 4 in Festival Avenue; and at 4.14am on November 5 in Owlet Road.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said that they could confirm they took a report of criminal damage to bins in the Festival Avenue area of Shipley in the early hours of November 1.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the live chat facility at westyorkshire.police.uk/contactus or use the 101 line quoting crime reference 13190565901.