PARENTS of schoolchildren are being called on to monitor youngsters after a spate of deliberately started fires since the start of the summer holidays.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade, has made the call after fire crews were called to at least 10 incidents in Warndon and Tolladine in the past week.

"Firefighters could be trying to save someone's life from a fire or in a road accident and having to deal with these incidents is quite frankly a waste of fire service resources," he said.

"There has been big increase in the number of hedge and grass fires in Warndon and Tolladine areas of Worcester.

Community

"These are small fires caused by children and teenagers who have got nothing better to do."

In the latest incident two derelict cars, a red Ford Fiesta and a green Rover Montego, were set alight in the railway yard at the rear of Tolladine Road at around 8pm on Thursday.

Councillor Jo Hodges, who represents the Holy Trinity ward, said she did not believe there was nothing for youngsters to do as there were play schemes and community centres available in both Tolladine and Warndon.

"The provisions are as good as any other part of the city but there will always be an element of children looking for mischief," she said.

"I do not think the problems are any worse than in other parts of the city.

"We are conscious of the fact that young people need to be kept occupied during the holidays," she said.

n Anyone with information about the car fires should contact PC Jamie Francis on 08457 444888, quoting incident number 237C/240703.