THE Deadwater Valley Trust is cleaning up again after a heathland fire and a spate of vandalism.

Land at Alexandra Park in Bordon was set alight on March 27 in what Deadwater Valley Trust countryside ranger Jamie Cummins described as "an act of arson”.

Heathland is a sensitive habitat which is prone to fires of this kind, particularly in drier seasons.

Mr Cummins said the fire came amid a spate of vandalism, with damage to noticeboards, caused by an aerosol can and plastic windows “booted in” and black spray paint appearing at various locations.

A single Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service vehicle attended the fire, which was thought to cover a patch of heathland about 100sqm in size.

The fire was quickly extinguished before it could spread any further, though the damage to wildlife was unavoidable.

Despite Mr Cummins’ suspicion of arson, a fire and rescue service spokesman said: “We don’t have anything about the cause.”

The damage continued this week with rangers discovering, on Monday this week, six trees illegally chainsawed down in the Bordon Inclosure.

Police had received reports of anti-social behaviour on trust land.

Arson was also suspected for fires at the Deadwater Valley Trust Nature Reserve in 2015.

* Anyone with any information is urged to contact Hampshire Police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.