WORRIED residents on a Basingstoke estate are living in the shadow of daily arson attacks.

Security is being doubled at the derelict apartment block in Myland Close, Oakridge, after a guard had to evacuate a mother and her two children from their nearby home during a blaze last Thursday evening.

The security guard, 18-year-old Gareth Lewis, told The Gazette action needs to be taken to stop the firebugs before somebody gets killed.

He said: "I started work here four or five weeks ago and there has only been one night when there hasn't been a fire.

"It started with small fires in upstairs bedrooms, but they've been getting worse and worse and these last two weeks we have had two major fires.

"Eventually someone's going to end up being killed."

Myland Close resident Fred Clay, 48, said the attacks are becoming a nuisance for people in the area.

"If you are trying to put kids to bed, and you have fire engines and police cars coming into the street with their sirens and lights, it disturbs people's peace," he said.

"They need to catch somebody soon and make an example of them."

The fire brigade has been called out twice this week to Myland Close. On Tuesday evening, 15 Blue Watch firefighters tackled a first-floor blaze for 90 minutes, and on Wednesday they put out a fire in a container in the building compound on the site. The vandals also smashed the window of a JCB forklift truck.

Mr Lewis said he saw two teenagers running away from one of the fires. They hurled abuse at him, saying they caused the fire and will do it again.

The construction firm Llewellyn is working on the site in conjunction with Oakfern Housing Association and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Llewellyn's senior site manager, John McGowan, said he is working closely with the police to try to catch the firebugs.

The firm has put up warning signs around the site and will be doubling security, 24 hours a day, during the Christmas period.

The flats are set to be demolished in January but Mr McGowan is worried about further damage when they start to build new housing on the site next April.

"It's a constant concern to us on every site," he said. "Something that takes the trouble-makers 10 minutes could cost us about £2,000."

Anyone who can help the police inquiry into the arson incidents is asked to contact Basingstoke police on 0845 045 45 45 or the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.