FIREFIGHTERS were called out after yobs set fire to a pile of rubbish which had been dumped close to a children’s play area.

A crew from St Helens Community Fire Station attended the scene of the blaze just after 8pm last night (Wednesday, April 24) on Jackson Street.

Arsonists had set fire to a mattress and furniture piled a metre high.

Watch Manager Mike Foster, who attended the call-out with Red Watch at St Helens Community Fire Station, said: “This fire involved an area around five metres square on a park near to a children’s play area.

“It appears that this was fly tipped materials and the fire was a suspected deliberate ignition. We investigate every fire we are called to and work with the police and other organisations such as the council to help reduce the risk of fires in communities across St Helens and the rest of Merseyside.”

The fire service is working as part of the Springwatch campaign across the borough to reduce the number of such fires including rubbish and grass.

More information on the Springwatch campaign can be found at safersthelens.org.uk