ARSONISTS were believed to be behind a series of fires on the Felixstowe peninsula early today after a beach hut and two straw stacks were burned down.

By Richard Cornwell

ARSONISTS were believed to be behind a series of fires on the Felixstowe peninsula early today after a beach hut and two straw stacks were burned down.

Police are understood to be investigating a connection between the straw stack fires, which happened in Kirton.

One fire crew was called to 20 tonnes of straw bales alight in a field next to the A14 at 3.30am and just as they completed putting it out, another of about 15 tonnes went up in Trimley Road in the village.

Both stacks were completely destroyed, but fire crews managed to stop the blaze spreading to other stacks in the tinder-dry fields.

The fire in Trimley Road was opposite homes but there was no threat to property because of the firefighters' quick action.

Farmers in the area have suffered similar problems over the years and are now stacking cut straw in smaller stacks or hiding them away from the road to try to deter attacks.

One-and-a-half hours later a beach hut in Golf Road car park on Old Felixstowe's clifftop was set alight.

The wooden chalet in the back row of the car park was left a charred shell with the owners' possessions, including a dresser, saucepans and crockery, beach chairs and other items, destroyed.

Investigations are taking place into all three incidents and police are appealing for anyone who was in the areas at the time and saw anyone acting suspiciously, hanging around or running away to contact them on 01473 613500.