Shops destroyed in arson attack

Three shops have been destroyed in an arson attack in County Down.

The attack happened on the Donaghadee Road in Newtownards on Tuesday night.

It is believed the fire started after bins were set alight at the back of the shops, which also set alight a natural gas pipeline.

Fire Service district commander Alistair Rooney, said an off-licence and two food shops were damaged in the attack.

"We believe that the fire was started, probably maliciously, in a bin at the rear of one of the shops," he said.

"Unfortunately this in turn set fire to a gas line, so we had a fairly serious fire involving burning gas.

"As a result, the three shops are destroyed but I am glad to say no one was injured in the fire."

Local people complain the shops and neighbouring petrol station act like a magnet for groups of young people.

The police said youths could have been responsible for the arson attack.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service has said an incident in which an oil tank was set alight in Londonderry could have been very serious.

The incident happened at a house in Balymagrorarty in the city at about 1830 GMT on Tuesday.

It is understood the blaze, at an unoccupied house in Macneice Close, was started deliberately.

The tank was empty but a window of the property was damaged in the incident.