Eight of the incidents are thought to have been started deliberately and are being investigated.

Crews from St Mawes were called to a fire in a loft in the village which was caused by an electrical fault.

But officers say other fires in cars, on hay bales, at a disused piggery and two other buildings, plus another at a beauty spot are being treated as arson.

Two car fires were dealt with by the brigade at Saltash and Penzance. Crews in Penzance also had to deal with an incident at a health food shop.

Three bales of hay were discovered to be on fire in Bodmin, and there were flames at a shed in St Austell.