Arsonists hit homes

ARSONISTS kept firefighters busy over the weekend.

Crews from Hollins and Oldham were called out to Montreal Street and then Goddard Street, Hathershaw, at around 10pm on Friday.

Paper, which had been set alight, was put through the letterboxes of several properties on Montreal Street. Fortunately firefighters were able to stop any real damage being done to the homes.

They were called out again to Goddard Street where a gas pipe had been struck. The crew had to isolate the gas in order to prevent a potentially dangerous incident from occurring.

The Hollins crew were also called out to Alexandra Park later on, where several bins had been set alight. At the Eldon Street estate, off Ashton Road, bins had been pushed against properties and set alight.

On Saturday, at around 4.30am, a car was set alight on Rock Street in Oldham town centre.

Fortunately, in all incident, firefighters managed to prevent any real damage ­- they are unsure whether it was one arsonist or several behind the incidents.

A wheelie bin was pushed against St Mary's Church, in Rushcroft Road, Shaw, before being set alight in the early hours of Sunday morning.

No damage was done.

A spokesperson from GMP confirmed that police are investigating the arson attempts in Montreal Street and Eldon Street and enquiries are ongoing.