BRIDPORT Fire Station has responded to a fourth bin fire of the day whilst police have been asked to investigate "suspicious circumstances".

At 9.13am, fire crews were called to their fourth bin fire and swiftly extinguished it.

It prompted a reminder from Bridport Fire Station for members of the public to "ensure cigarettes are extinguish fully before disposal, no hot ashes are disposed of in bins and batteries are separated from other waste and left out for recycling collections".

In the early hours of the morning Bridport Fire Station responded to three more bin fires that a spokesperson said could have caused "a risk to life".

Crews were initially caled out at 2.05am this morning to reports of a bin fire on West Street. 

In quick succession they dealt with two more bin fires including one outside Bridport Post Office.

Police officers have been asked to investigate owing to "suspicious cirumstances".

A spokesperson for Bridport Fire Station said: "Due to suspicious circumstances the police were requested to attend and hopefully will be able to obtain CCTV footage.

"Thankfully there was no damage to any properties other than the bins.

"Had these fires not been spotted and dealt with quickly it could have escalated further resulting in significant fires causing major damage to property and risk to life."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 2.09am on Friday 24 June 2022 from the fire service making us aware of a bin fire in West Street in Bridport.

"A second bin fire was reported at another location in West Street at around 2.25am. It was reported that the cause of the fires was believed to be suspicious.

"An update was received at 3.37am that the fire service had dealt with the fires and there was no requirement for immediate police attendance.

"Local officers have been made aware of the incidents and will be carrying out enquiries."