Children with fireworks suspected of causing blaze

Children with fireworks are thought to have sparked a wildfire which ripped through a nature reserve, police have said.

Officers said the fire at Churchtown Nature Reserve in the Point Field area of Saltash on Friday destroyed plants and wildlife.

Fire crews who attended the scene believed the blaze had been started by a firework and reported seeing children running up nearby Wearde Road as they arrived to tackle the blaze, officers said.

Describing the incident as "senseless arson", police appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Officers said there had been two weeks of persistent problems around the town's Waterside area and pontoon.

Youths had climbed over a locked gate to gain access to the pontoon, caused damage to boats by climbing on them and attempted to untie a safety boat, police said.

Officers also said young people had been rude, entered businesses, intimidated staff and customers, and disrupted diners by filming them.

Further incidents reported on Fore Street in recent days have included shoplifting, dangerous cycling, the use of e-bikes on pavements and roads, and other anti-social behaviour.

Police urged parents to check where their children were, take responsibility for their welfare and ensure they treated others with "dignity and respect".

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