POLICE are hunting a gang of arsonists who started a series of stack fires in the Fens, destroying hundreds of tonnes of straw and costing farmers hundreds of thousands of pounds. Fire crews from across Cambridgeshire were called to deal with 13 blazes st

POLICE are hunting a gang of arsonists who started a series of stack fires in the Fens, destroying hundreds of tonnes of straw and costing farmers hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Fire crews from across Cambridgeshire were called to deal with 13 blazes started on Saturday and Sunday.

Police are now carrying out house-to-house enquiries. Because of the pattern of fires they believe the same offenders started them all.

On Saturday the fires were started at Sixteen Foot Bank, Chatteris (7.30pm); Upwell Road, March (8pm); Binnimoor Road, March (9.30pm); Padgetts Road, Christchurch (10.20pm); Fifty Road, Welney (10.35pm); Christchurch (10.40pm: Wisbech Road, Manea (10.45pm; Flagrass Hill, March (10.55pm).

Sunday's inclidents were: Fifties, Manea (midnight); Wisbech Road, Manea (1.40pm); Benwick Road, March (8pm); Longwood Fen Drove, Chatteris (8pm); Upwell Road, March (8.20pm).

Det Chief Insp Constant said: "I would appeal to anyone who works in a local garage or shop. Has anyone come into your shop to buy petrol, lighting fluid or matches, who seemed to be acting suspiciously.

"Any information, no matter how small, could prove invaluable in tracing them."

CONTACT: Police on 0845 4564564.