BURYS fire chief has launched a borough-wide appeal to help reduce the number of arson attacks involving cars.

The action by Bury Service Borough Commander Pete Riley coincides with figures which show that there were 57 vehicle fires deliberately started in the area since April of last year. That equates to a cost to society of £290,700 in the borough.

Figures produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister state that the average cost of a car fire is approximately £5,100. This takes into account the cost of the vehicle, insurance claims, removal costs, fire service attendance, police investigations and other factors.

Now, Mr Riley has appealed to Bury residents to be vigilant and report thefts of vehicles and any abandoned cars as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of them being set on fire.

To help reduce the problem, he said, people should make sure their car is securely locked and, where possible, fitted with an intruder alarm.

He added: "If you believe a vehicle has been abandoned, report it to the police before it becomes a fire statistic.

"In some cases, abandoned vehicles can be removed within hours of being reported on 0161 872 5050. Your call will be redirected to the appropriate area department."

If anyone witnesses any such crimes, they are asked to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.