POLICE are hunting an arsonist who tried to burn down Romsey Abbey.

The firebug was spotted deliberately pushing a bin in front of the Norman church's north door before setting it on fire.

Passers-by called 999 and fire crews raced to the 756-year-old building to find that the fire, in a plastic bin, had partly damaged the door.

Detectives say the man dragged the bin from the North Garth and placed it up against the door of the abbey, which is home to a number of nationally treasured artefacts.

If the blaze had taken hold, the organ, which was restored at a cost of £100,000 in 1996, could have been lost.

It's the latest in a series of attacks on the site - also the burial place of Earl Mountbatten, who was killed by the IRA in 1979 - by troublemakers.

Repeated burglaries led to the installation of closed-circuit TV cameras and other security measures a few years ago.

Romsey vicar Canon Neil Crawford-Jones, said: "It's upsetting that somebody would want to do such a foolish thing. It was swiftly dealt with. One person saw him dragging the bin into position and luckily other people were coming by and saw what was happening."

Canon Crawford-Jones expressed concern at arson attacks on churches, especially those of a serious, deliberate nature.

But in this case he was of the opinion that someone "possibly under the influence of alcohol" was to blame.

"Luckily, serious damage was avoided thanks to people of good faith."

Canon Crawford-Jones has invested considerable effort over the years to make sure the abbey stays open to the public.

"We want to keep the church open for people to use it for prayer and to visit the building."

A white man aged 35-40 is being sought in connection with the attack. He is described as average height, of medium build, with dark-brown collar-length hair.