FIREFIGHTERS are joining forces with Basingstoke council to target abandoned cars in a new campaign to cut down on a toll of arson which has already cost the fire service nearly £30,000 this year.

Basingstoke fire officers are reporting all abandoned cars they see to the environmental health department to ensure they are removed quickly before they can be set alight by firebugs.

The move comes as the town's fire service reveals arsonists have been torching buildings, cars or rubbish every day since January. Every time a fire appliance is called out, it costs at least £240 - meaning the service has clocked up a bill of almost £30,000 because of the activities of arsonists.

Stolen and abandoned vehicles are the biggest target of the firestarters, and dealing with them accounts for one-third of the local fire service's bill.

Assistant Divisional Officer Jerry Leonard, from Basingstoke fire station, said the joint campaign to clear abandoned cars started last week and should help their fight against the firebugs.

"Arsons are costing us a tremendous amount of money, time and resources that could be put to much better use," he said.

"If we can remove the risk of the cars being burned it should have an impact on the number of arsons. We have referred four cars to the council and they have already been removed."

Basingstoke fire service staff have also been holding meetings with Kingfisher and Oakfern housing associations about improving the removal of rubbish on local estates and will begin visiting schools in the worst arson-hit areas of Popley, Oakridge and Brighton Hill to educate youngsters about the dangers of starting fires.

The anti-arson campaign received another boost when fire service minister Alan Whitehead announced £25,000 of funding for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to help fight malicious fires.

The money will go towards helping the county's arson task force, which includes Hampshire's newly-appointed arson reduction co-ordinator Les Vivian, educate and support fire services battling arson throughout the county.

Announcing the funding, Mr Whitehead said: "Arson is the largest single cause of major fires in the UK. Tackling arson and the causes of arson is vital if we are to make our communities better places in which to live and work."

Anyone who knows of an abandoned vehicle in the borough area is asked to contact Basingstoke council on 01256 845474.

On Wednesday, Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, said he would give councils new powers which would allow them to remove abandoned cars after 24 hours.

They cannot currently be removed until a seven-day period has elapsed.