16551/3VICTIMS of a serial arsonist on a Trowbridge estate fear the next attack could be fatal. Three fires in two hours on the town's Seymour estate caused £2,000 of damage and left residents fearing for their lives.

Three wheelie bin blazes in the early hours of Thursday are the latest in a line of 24 arson attacks in the last year.

The Wiltshire Times launched the Arson Kills campaign last year to help raise awareness in a bid to catch the offenders.

Arson victims Neil Hannaford, 21, and his partner Hannah Arroyo, 19, were asleep at their house in Shails Lane when the sound of cracking glass woke them at about 5pm

Mr Hannaford, who works as a plumbing and heating engineer, saw the fire and called the fire brigade.

The wheelie bin was destroyed and damage, estimated at £1,130, was caused to the bathroom window and a wall. He said: "It could have been a lot worse. That is the only exit we have in the house and if it completely caught fire there would have been no escape for us.

"I don't understand why anyone would do that, what enjoyment is there?"

Police believe the arsonist moved on to Charles Street where another bin was set on fire next to a motorbike.

Peter and Carol Hopkins were woken up by a fireman knocking on their door at 5.20am, telling them their Honda CBR had been set alight.

More than £1,000 of damage was caused to the bike but Mr Hopkins, 46, an employee at Westinghouse, was more concerned about the future.

He said: "It has happened so many times and the next time it happens it could kill someone. There was half a tank of petrol in the bike and we were lucky it did not go up."

Mrs Hopkins, 45, who works at Platinum Nissan, Box, said: "We need CCTV cameras in this estate because none of us can feel safe at the moment. I know it will come at a cost but what price can be put on a life?"

In the third attack a bin outside a house in Pitman Avenue was set alight some time before 5am. Police believe all the fires were started by lighting dry paper in the bins.

PC Sarah Harkcom, of Trowbridge police, said: "Someone, somewhere, knows who was responsible. I would urge anyone who might have information to come forward before anyone is killed."

A man was arrested in connection with the arsons on Wednesday but was released without charge the same day.

Leading Fire Officer Paul Keenan, based at Trowbridge, said: "The concern is these things start off small and then escalate. It is a very worrying trend and I would urge people to come forward with information."