Four fires at a nature reserve are being blamed on arsonists

Four fires at the Steeple Woodland nature reserve near St Ives have been blamed on arsonists, with gorse bushes and some saplings destroyed.

Volunteers working at the reserve say any small fire could easily sweep out of control.

The warm weather has also seen an increase in gorse and scrub fires being tackled by the county's fire brigade.

Reserve decimated

Reserve worker Rupert Manley said: "When it's very dry before the green growth and bracken come through, it's a tinder box.

"If there's a major fire it would be devastating and could put people's lives and property at risk."

Chairman of the reserve, John Mudge, says the petty vandalism must stop.

If the fires continue, it will decimate the reserve John Mudge, volunteer

He said: "Enormous effort has gone into the work.

"Every Sunday throughout the winter when we could work, we've put in about 2,000 plants.

"It's four years work and we've got about a 98% success rate.