ARSONISTS set three town centre shops alight in just two hours, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Wheelie bins were ignited outside each of the premises, which were all within 100 metres of each other.

One of the shops was destroyed and had to be assessed by dangerous buildings inspectors.

At 4am yesterday, yobs lit rubbish in a bin outside Borderline, an electrical retail shop in Bold Street, Bolton, which opened only a few months ago. Fire engulfed the front of the shop, spreading to the inside of the building. It destroyed the ground floor display area and the first floor store room.

Thousands of pounds worth of electrical equipment went up in flames.

Firefighters battled for an hour to control the blaze. A large fan was then used to blow smoke out of the shop.

A spokesman said: "It was well alight and the fire has caused extensive damage, leaving the building unsafe."

Rubble was piled up outside the shop yesterday morning.

At 5.45am, in nearby Bowkers Row, off Mawdesley Street, another wheelie bin was set on fire outside Carl Chapman Solicitors. The flames damaged the window frame and facia.

And just over half an hour later, in the Well Springs, Victoria Square, two rear doors of Barclays Bank were damaged by a burning bin.

Philip Ormrod, owner of the Cafe Bar, on Newport Street, said the fire at Borderline had caused smoke damage to his stock room. He added: "Fire is the last thing anybody wants. It's just pointless."

Detective Inspector Andy Aston said: "We are treating each case as arson and believe the three incidents are connected."