Action in Leicestershire has seen a cut in deliberate fires

The Leicestershire Arson Task Force was set up in June with a �38,000 grant.

It has helped speed up the removal of abandoned vehicles, secure empty homes and run education programmes for schools and the public.

There were 4,500 deliberate fires in the county last year, and the project aims to reduce this by at least 10%.

Largest cause

The force is one of 31 schemes highlighted in the Evaluation of the Arson Control Forum's New Projects Initiative, funded by the Government's Arson Control Forum.

The report highlights that where teams have been set up the number of deliberate fires has fallen by 2% - but risen by 27% in areas where no action has been taken.

Phil Hope, Fire Safety Minister and MP for Corby, said: "Deliberate fires are still the largest single cause of major fires in the UK.

"It is a problem that leads to loss of life, serious injuries and can result in substantial financial and personal hardship."

He said that for every �1 invested in each project it is estimated that about �16 has been saved in terms of fire costs to the economy.

The service covers Leicestershire and Rutland.