Boys arrested after bin fires shared online

Police and fire crews attended properties in Polesworth on Wednesday.

Two young teenagers were arrested after a series of bin fires that were shared in online videos.

Five blazes, close to houses, were tackled by crews in Polesworth in Warwickshire, at about 00:30 BST on Wednesday.

An investigation revealed that the fires had been started deliberately and police were alerted, with officers establishing that they had also been shared on social media.

A boy, aged 13, and a 14-year-old, both from Tamworth, were later arrested on suspicion of arson.

Sgt Adam Skelsey, of Atherstone & Coleshill safer neighbourhood team, said “Setting fire to bins puts nearby houses at risk, it’s all too possible for an ignited fragment to land on someone else’s property, potentially causing serious harm and possibly death.

"It also diverts firefighters from responding to potentially life-threatening emergencies.

“On top of that, it’s the community that ends up having to pay for the bins to be replaced.

“It’s a deeply foolish and selfish thing to do for entertainment purposes.”