ARSONISTS are plaguing a group of gardeners, ruining their hours of hard work in trying to restore neglected allotments to create an oasis on an estate.

ARSONISTS are plaguing a group of gardeners, ruining their hours of hard work in trying to restore neglected allotments to create an oasis on an estate.

Allotment holders have found sheds and equipment targeted twice in the past few months at the Railway Hill site, behind Coronation Drive, Felixstowe.

In two other incidents, houses backing on to the allotment site suffered fires - a house in Coronation had a blaze started against a wall, and a home in Stour Avenue had an outhouse damaged after someone set fire to a large pile of rubbish yards from a new conservatory.

The latest incident happened at about 9.30pm on Sunday when a fire was started in two sheds on the Waveney Road edge of the site. A householder saw smoke and flames and called 999.

Allotment holder and gardeners' spokesman Tom Wiles said the gardeners were devastated by the incidents.

"We have no idea who is doing this at all - it could be youngsters, but then again it might be someone else altogether. We just don't know," said Mr Wiles.

"It is devastating after all the hours put in by so many people, men and women working together."

One shed was torched before Christmas, and on Sunday night two new sheds were attacked - one completely destroyed and the other left a charred shell.

Equipment was also lost, including tools and a lawnmower.

An attempt was also made to start a large bonfire on another part of the allotments, where old wood and rubbish has been gathered for a supervised fire.

Anyone with information about the fires - especially if they saw anyone on the allotments Sunday night - is asked to call Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.

A 24-YEAR-OLD woman is due to appear in court after a fire in an Ipswich flat.

Tracey Jackson, of Newnham Court, Ipswich, is charged with criminal damage, possession of cannabis, possession of an article with a blade or sharp point and two counts of obstructing a police constable in the execution of his or her duty.

She is due to appear before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on February 22.

The emergency services went to a Newnham Court flat around 10pm yesterday after a report of a bin fire in the living room.

Firefighters led a woman to safety and an ambulance service spokeswoman said she was taken to Ipswich Hospital.

The emergency services attended the flat once again around 12.45am today.

Firefighters again found a small fire in the living room and led a woman to safety.