Vandals were behind a spate arson attacks cross Southampton last night.

Firefighters, were called out to deal with a spate of fires in wheelie bins between 9pm-11.30pm, one of which badly damaged a charity shop.

Three appliances, including a special equipment unit, spent nearly two hours at the most serious blaze that caused extensive damage to the Heart Foundation shop in Portswood Road.

They were called to the scene shortly before 9pm to find a fire had been started after a commercial wheelie bin had been pushed against the rear of the premises.

Six firefighters tackling breathing apparatus put out the flames.

The crews were also called out to deal with other bin fires in the city centre, including at Grosvenor Square, Cumberland Place and Lower Alfred Street.

Nigel Mottashed, watch manager at St Marys, said: “We would like to stress they are putting other lives at risk.

“We are being called out to deal with these needless incidents when more serious ones could be taking place and the time it will take us to get there could make all the difference between life and death.”

Police and the fire service have launched a joint investigation into the dramas.

One man has been arrested and is helping detectives with their inquiries.