Police have issued another appeal as a gang of teens attempted to set a fire near to a block of flats for the THIRD time in three days.
Huge piles of charred and melted rubbish were left lying in a Paisley street after firebugs torched bins in a housing scheme twice last Wednesday.
The gang set a fire on George Street then piled up bags of trash at then at West Buchanan Place and set it alight, leaving a mound of charred remains in the common close.
Now the same youths are being hunted by cops after they were spotted with a firework in the same area yesterday afternoon around 4pm.
Again emergency services were called and firefighters quickly put the blaze out.
All three blazes are being treated as deliberate by cops, who are now hunting a gang of three male youths.
On Wednesday, firefighters raced to the town’s Canal Street area to tackle both of the blazesy, which were set in George Street and nearby West Buchanan Place.
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Shocking pictures show piles of charred and melted rubbish strewn across West Buchanan Place, which is understood to have been the worst fires of the two.
Firefighters were alerted to the first blaze in George Street shortly after 3pm last Wednesday after receiving a call from a nearby resident.
Three fire engines raced to the scene to tackle the bin fires, extinguishing the flames and ensuring the area was safe.
Later that evening, at around 9.30pm, firefighters were called again to attend another blaze in the area - this time near to a building in West Buchanan Place.
Due to the proximity in both distance and time, firefighters deemed the fires wilful and contacted police.
Paisley CID said the gang struck again at 4pm on Friday afternoon with reports they were seen brandishing a lit firework near to the bin chute at West Buchanan Place.
Detectives are appealing for anyone in the area who may have information on any of the incidents to get in touch.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Officers are investigating two fires which took place in George Street and West Buchanan Place in Paisley on April 6 and another which took place at 4pm on Friday, April 8 in West Buchanan Place.
“Due to the proximity and timing of these incidents, they are being treated as wilful.
“Officers are currently carrying out enquiries and speaking with residents in the area.
“We would urge anyone who may be able to assist with our enquiries to please get in touch.”
Anyone with information on any of the fires can contact police by calling 101.
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