AN ARSONIST is believed to have struck four times in Ramsgate over Christmas, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Two schools, a sports centre and a solicitor’s office were targeted.

At about 8pm on Christmas Eve, a fire was discovered at Priory County Infants School in Cannon Road. The headteacher’s office was damaged by heat and smoke.

On Christmas Day evening, two wheelie bins were pushed up against fire exit doors at Ramsgate Sports and Leisure Centre, High Street.

Around £500 damage was caused to the doors, the bins were worth £200 each and water damage will cost around £2000 to repair.

At around 6pm on Monday, December 27, a member of the public spotted a fire at Robinson and Allfree Solicitors in Cavendish Street.

A ground floor office was badly damaged, and will cost around £4000 to repair.

Later the same night firefighters put out a blaze at Dame Janet Infant School, Newington Road.

The fire, at about 8pm, extensively damaged one of the classrooms and four computers, worth £4,000.

All four fires are being treated as suspicious, and traces of flammable liquid have been found at several sites.

A police spokesman said they are not ruling out a link with three earlier fires in public buildings in the town.