The fire service has been called out after an arson attack on a recycling skip.

Workington Blue Watch attended the deliberate blaze, at Tesco car park, Workington, at 9pm on Tuesday after someone had ignited a cardboard recycling container.

No damage was caused to the surrounding recycling containers.

A spokesperson for the service said: “Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service has responded to a number of incidents in the Workington area recently where fires may have been started deliberately.

“Deliberate fires account for up to a third of all fires attended by fire and rescue services nationally and can have devastating effects in terms of cost and consequences.

“Arson is a significant drain on Fire & Rescue resources and can put lives in danger, destroy buildings and be devastating for communities and families.

This fire is the latest in a spate of attacks which have targeted recycling containers in West Cumbria.

In October dangerous arsonists were accused of putting lives at risk in Cleator Moor and an appeal went out for information following a fire at the recycling bank.

Recycling was set alight and damage to repair a cage cost Copeland council £1,000.

Earlier in the year recycling bins at Egremont Fire Station suffered an arson attack.

Two recycling bins full of clothing at the station were set alight in what watch manager David McDowell said felt very much like a personal attack.

He said the two bins had to be replaced which had cost thousands of pounds.

Mr McDowell added that the people of Egremont have been huge supporters of the textile scheme in the past and so many have told him how outraged they were by the fire.

He said the attacks will not deter Egremont firefighters, who have won a national award for textile recycling six years in a row.

A spokesperson for Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service urged people to report arson. He said: “Arson destroys lives and costs a lot of time, money and effort. “If you see fire-setting or suspicious activity, you should report it to the Police.”