Fire crews have attacked suspected arsonists who set light to two wheelie bins and a motor bike in Folkestone.

The three fires were within 20 minutes of each other early Sunday.

Watch manager Andy Batchelor, from Folkestone fire station said: “While we were dealing with these incidents, our crews were not available for any emergency calls.

“We believe all these fires were started deliberately and are linked as they were in such a short space of time and within 200 yards of each other.

“Dealing with such incidents ties up our crews. All the time we are dealing with fires started deliberately, it reduces our cover for emergencies elsewhere in the town.”

The first fire was at 1.30am and was a motor bike alight in Bouverie Road West.

“While we were there, we were called to a commercial wheelie bin alight outside a hotel in Shakespeare Terrace,” said Mr Batchelor.

“Our second crew dealt with the motor bike while we tackled the wheelie bin. As soon as we had put that out, we got a third call to another commercial bin alight about 50 yards away in Pleydell Gardens.

“That fire spread to a car which was also damaged.

“The incidents were in such close proximity and all are being treated as suspicious.”

The police are investigating the fires and are studying CCTV images.