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Arson victim, 79, demands action after bin set on fire at West Bromwich home

A pensioner in West Bromwich has been targeted by arsonists who set two bins outside her home ablaze.

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Police were called to Marian Hatfield's home in Navigation Lane after a neighbour raised the alarm and called the emergency services.

The 79-year-old former dinner lady awoke earlier this week to find a melted pile of plastic on her driveway, where her bins once stood. She is now demanding action be taken to stamp out anti-social behaviour in her area.

She said: "I have been having a lot of problems around here since I moved in. It's a lovely area to live in but no-one seems to appreciate it."

In the past she claims that she has been subjected to people shouting things at her outside her home and in the street.

She said: "I just want to set things straight and get on with my life, why should I have to live like this?"

The remains of the wheelie bin

Borough neighbourhoods chief, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, has vowed to look into the problem. He said: "I am sorry to hear about the problems she has been having. People setting fire to a bin could lead to a more serious fire so we will be investigating and I will be asking local neighbourhood police to look into this matter."

Police were called to the incident at 4.15am on Tuesday morning.

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