ARSONISTS have struck at an Ipswich housing scheme for the third time in three weeks.Vandals have destroyed much of the hedgerow surrounding Walsingham Court in Winchester Close and the gardener has today expressed fears the yobs may come back.

ARSONISTS have struck at an Ipswich housing scheme for the third time in three weeks.

Vandals have destroyed much of the hedgerow surrounding Walsingham Court in Winchester Close and the gardener has today expressed fears the yobs may come back.

Brian Elsom is worried that another fire may compromise the safety of residents as it could spread to fenced washing areas and then the main building.

He said: "All of the residents are concerned about this.

"If the washing area caught light it could spread to the warden's area and the shed could catch light.

"We have got benches that I bring in every year for residents to use in the garden. They sit outside in the summer and it is lovely out there, there was lots of privacy.

"Of course now they won't be able to sit out.

"The way things are now they are scared to go out there."

The majority of residents living at Walsingham Court are elderly and some enjoy helping Mr Elsom with the garden.

He added: "We go in for competitions every year for best kept garden and we have won it twice. It gives residents something to look forward to.

"They are their gardens, I just look after them. They are very upset about this."

Mr Elsom doesn't believe fire crews have been called to any of the blazes and he said he has been unable to contact the police because he is kept in a queue and doesn't have time to wait.

A spokeswoman for Ipswich police said facilities were in place for the public to leave messages.

She said: "Calls from the public reporting incidents of criminal damage are important to us.

"When making a call to our Force Operations Room, if placed in a queue there is a facility to leave a message. Dependant upon the demands of the call handlers at the time, calls will be returned within an hour.

"Call First, the Constabulary's major project aimed at helping the force cope with increasing numbers of calls from the public is moving forward.

"New technology is being introduced, more staff has been recruited and plans are underway to establish a separate contact centre."

She said it was important that incidents such as those at Walsingham Court be reported.

Have you experienced problems with vandals? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.