VANDALS and arsonists caused chaos in Bordon over the Easter weekend, setting fire to woodland and smashing windows.

Firefighters were kept busy by a number of Òmalicious ignitionÓ fires over the four days.

And a Bordon community centre is counting the cost this week after yobs hurled bricks at a number of its windows over the same space of time.

In a period of less than three hours on Easter Sunday fire crews were called out to four separate fires in Bordon heathland Ð one of which was behind the Jet petrol station at the Hogmoor Inclosure.

Liphook firefighters responded to the first fire on heathland opposite Hogmoor Road at 2-41 pm. The firefighters used hose reels to extinguish the fire. It was out by 3-38 pm.

But less than an hour later, at 4-27 pm, Bordon firefighters were called to a fire in bushes on the Hogmoor Inclosure, which took nearly two hours to put out.

Spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue service, Mike Gates, said that the cause of the fire was thought to be Òmalicious ignitionÓ and that the youngsters had not only put their own lives in danger but those of the firefighters and the public.

ÒThese kinds of fires can easily get out of control, and although children and teenagers may think itÕs fun to start fires, one day some of them could get seriously hurt by their actions,Ó he said.

While one Bordon crew were battling the second blaze at the Hogmoor Inclosure, another crew were sent to nearby heathland to deal with a third fire at 4-27 pm. This fire took just over half an hour to put out and is also thought to be deliberate.

But as fire crews were leaving the scene another fire was reported just behind the Jet garage at 5-07 pm.

Mr Gates said that fire crews across Hampshire had dealt with 173 grass and heathland fires over the bank holiday weekend, many of which were attributed to arsonists.

And he has urged parents to ensure that they know where their children are over the school holidays.

ÒIt is a sad fact of life that we do notice there are a small increase in these kind of fires after school on a normal school day, a slight increase at the weekend and a larger increase in the holidays,Ó said Mr Gates.

ÒThe grass has been dry. Of course these areas themselves are very difficult to get to with a vehicle this size so we have to use the Land Rovers. At at least one of these fires, children had been seen leaving the scene.

ÒWe are urging parents to make sure they know where their children are during the school holidays and make sure the children know not to play with fire and how dangerous it can be, not just to themselves but to other children and the damage it causes to the environment.

ÒTen seconds of stupidity can lead to ten hours of us fighting fires and ten years for the vegetation to grow back again.Ó

With summer fast approaching, Mr Gates has also urged smokers to ensure that cigarette butts are extinguished properly and residents picnicking in heathland to make sure that they do not leave any glass behind, as glass is easily ignited in the hot weather.

Also on Sunday arsonists set fire to some pieces of paper in Linden Road, Bordon.

Pc Phil Shore, of Whitehill police, has also warned youngsters not to play with fire.

ÒThe fire had started when juveniles set fire to some paper and it had got out of control,Ó he said. ÒPeople need to be aware about how dry the ground is at the moment and not to play with fire.Ó

However, it was not just firefighters who had to deal with the chaos at the weekend.

Between last Thursday and Tuesday youngsters threw bricks at the Forest Community Centre, in Pinehill Road, smashing five windows. The damage has been estimated at £600.

This latest attack comes just two weeks after damage was caused to a window to the town council chamber, in the community centre.

Anyone with any information about the crime or any of the fires should contact Whitehill police on 0845 045 45 45.