Worried residents have raised concerns over potential arson attacks on a replacement recycling site in West Cumbria.

Frequent fires at Egremont's Chapel Street recycling area forced owners Copeland Council to shut it down last month.

Yesterday (Thursday) it opened a new site - for plastic and cardboard - on the town's Beck Green car park.

However, residents near the car park are worried the vandals may return and that extra visitors to the site will increase traffic outside their homes.

Copeland say the new site is more visible which it hopes will deter any misuse.

"We have got to give the community a chance but if hooligans start causing problems again we can't put up with it," said Donald Eaton, of Lamb Lane near the site.

"There's a lot of empty buildings around here too, if they start torching them then we'll be in trouble."

He added: "We need recycling facilities but you have got to think of the pensioners that live around here."

Firefighters were called to the old site three times in May to deal with blazes which destroyed two containers and saw cardboard collections set alight twice in a fortnight.

The attacks followed similar incidents in October last year.

A concerned couple, who live near the site, said residents were only consulted about the new recycling bins on Tuesday (July 5).

They said: "Five of the tenants actually live by the car park itself so get a firsthand view out of their bedroom and living room windows.

"The council say that by putting the bins in the middle of a car park it is less likely to be vandalised. Good luck with that.

"We have to put up with the constant sounds of cars, daily and in late evening."

And Clive Crayston, of Lamb Lane, believes the council should have done more to stop the trouble at the Chapel Street site.

He said: "I just think they might have been better to leave it where it was, further away from houses, and put cameras up to catch them.

"They'll probably burn them out again but we'll only get smoke. It should be looked after better and they should try to catch who is doing it."

However Copeland Council said the site has been used without incident as a temporary recycling location during Egremont Crab Fair.

"We are pleased to be able to reintroduce this popular facility to the people of Egremont," said Janice Carrol, waste and enforcement manager for the council.

"We hope the new site at Beck Green provides a safe and reliable place for residents to recycle."

She added: "We appreciate there are some concerns from residents about vandalism and arson however the council will be monitoring the site very closely over the coming months."