A SPATE of deliberate fires in Egremont has caused fury amongst our readers.

A deliberate fire was set in Egremont underpass last week and it was one incident too many for watch manager David Mcdowell who said: "It’s stupidity and people not thinking about the consequences, of how it’s impacting on the fire service personnel.

"People have got to go and clean all that up and get rid of the waste that’s left behind."

"There could be a serious incident and the response time of that fire appliance is affected. It’s happening too many times and we’d just like the individuals to stop before they injure themselves or someone else."

Fire service personnel were forced to climb over boulders to extinguish the fire.

The incident came just two weeks after a recycling bank in Cleator Moor was deliberately set alight.

The incident cause £1000 worth of damage to the council's recycling bank.

And our readers had their say.

One commenter said: "There is NO police presence in town. Kids running around with their super spreading groups screaming and fighting.

"Doing wheelies in the middle of the road, the opposite way of the traffic - then threatening drivers when they beep to get out of the way so they don't get knocked over.

They said: "It's a joke. No consequences for actions."

Eight people agreed with the anonymous reader.

Another anonymous commenter said: "You could have been talking about Carlisle there, it is exactly the same.

"Crime reported, names given no action taken. Does not put any confidence in those trying to do the right thing."

Speaking on the growing number of arson and vandalism, Copeland Borough councillor for Egremont Michael McVeigh said: "It is becoming a regular occurrence. It is getting to be a concern for residents.

"It is becoming an increasing concern right through the borough."