THE full extent of the scourge of car arson attacks in Bolton has been revealed in the print version of the Bolton Evening News on Tuesday.

At least one car is set on fire almost every day - and the cost of dealing with them is a staggering £1.75 million a year.

A total of 343 car fires, each costing £5,100 to deal with, were reported in the last year.

The worst hot spots for car fires are parts of Halliwell, Tonge Moor, Great Lever and Farnworth.

Fire chiefs warned that the strain car fires put on their resources could cost lives as they launched a campaign to stop the firebugs.

Bolton's top firefighter, deputy borough commander Andy Heywood, said: "We are being taken away from dealing with accidents by car fires.

"Usually there is no threat to life, but we have to attend them and, potentially, that could delay our response to a serious emergency.

"Car fires cause a blight to the lives of people around them and they are a magnet for further anti-social behaviour."

Mr Heywood said firefighters were working with police to identify areas where the most car fires occurred, and with local councils to remove cars which have been abandoned.

"There is a also very clear link between car fires and the theft of cars," he said.

"Car Crime is a priority for Greater Manchester Police and I am confident that a recent fall in the number of car fires is a result of their work to target car crime."

The cost of dealing with car fires includes damage to road surfaces, vehicle recovery and damage to street fittings such as lamp-posts, as well as money spent by the fire service and police to put out the blazes and track down those responsible.

The figures do not include the cost to motorists and insurers when claims are made.

Across Greater Manchester, arsonists who set cars on fire cost a total of £18 million, with 3,535 cars were set alight in the last 12 months.

The figures were lower than in 2004, when 3,967 car fires were reported in Greater Manchester and 349 in Bolton.

Cllr Noel Spencer, who represents Farnworth on Bolton Council, said: "Car fires and car crime is something which is repeatedly reported to councillors, but a lot has been done by the police to tackle the matter.

"A car fire generates a tremendous amount of cost, so it's very important that the public help the police by reporting anything which they believe could be linked to car crime."

Car owners are being urged to make sure cars are locked and fitted with anti-theft devices, to report thefts quickly and to inform police of any suspicious behaviour.

Car crime can be reported to police on 0161 872 5050, or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.