Express & Star

'Mindless' youths set fire to wheelie bins in quiet Rugeley road

'Mindless' yobs have set fire to six wheelie bins after dragging them into the middle of a residential village road in Rugeley.

Published
The bins were set on fire in Mount Road on Friday night. Picture: Cannock Police

The youths are reported to have dragged the bins, as well as shrubbery and rubbish, onto Mount Road, in the Etching Hill area, before setting it all alight on Friday night.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 10pm, with a spokesman for Cannock Police describing it as a 'significant' fire in the area.

The fire is believed to have caused some damage to the road. No one is reported to have been injured in the incident.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "The fire in the middle of Mount Road, Rugeley, was caused by mindless vandals dragging bins and branches into the road.

"Endangering road users and causing damage to the road. CCTV enquiries are on-going."

No arrests have been made and police are continuing to make further enquiries.

Etching Hill Councillor Jim Bowater described their behaviour as 'unacceptable' and said the youths should be forced to pay for the damage that they have caused.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews from Rugeley fire station attended the fire in Mount Road, in the Etchings Hill, at around 9.50pm on Friday night.

"Six wheelie bins had been set alight, which had been dragged into the middle of the road. It was a deliberate ignition and fire crews left it in the charge of Staffordshire Police."

Councillor Bowater, who sits on Cannock Chase District Council, said: "I am just so sorry that this has happened in Mount Road. I hope that the perpetrators will be caught quickly and put away for some time.

"This is youths who have got too much time on their hands then they should have. I condemn their behaviour and it just not acceptable – it should not be allowed.

"I would give the bill for the damage to the road to those involved and make them pay for the damage they have caused.

"It is unacceptable as this is basically an arson attack and it should be a prison sentence if they are caught."

Fellow ward Councillor Justin Johnson said: "It is a shame for the local people who live along that road. It's a little village road, there are a number of houses along there but it is not a very busy road at all.

"I condemn the behaviour of those involved."

A spokesman for Cannock Police added that patrols in the Etching Hill area will be stepped up.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.