A POTENTIALLY fatal arson attack in Bury that caused a gas leak is being linked to three others committed in March - most in the very same street.

Detectives investigating four separate deliberate fires in Kay Street in Free Town and John Street opposite The Rock in the town centre believe they were all committed by the same group of youths.

The most recent incident, which took place on Wednesday April 27, saw a number of tyres being set alight outside the Plumbing Depot industrial unit in Kay Street at 4.50pm.

Crews from Bury Fire Station tackled the blaze and noticed it had ruptured a gas main, sending gas into the wall cavity of the plumbing business.

Gas engineers were called to the scene to make things safe.

Watch Manager Steve Wilcock told the Bury Times at the time: "The tyres had been dragged and dumped outside units and set alight.

"This is wilful damage.

"Over the last Bank Holiday we had two fires in the area which had happened at around the same time as this one.

"Police are looking at CCTV footage and I would ask businesses to be vigilant and to ensure everything is locked up.

"Incidents such of this are very disruptive to businesses."

Following further enquiries, officers have established that three to four youths - who were potentially with a dog - were seen to start the fire and then run off down Bridge Street.

This crime is now being linked to three other incidents.

A parked car was set on fire in John Street, in Bury town centre, at about 6am on March 27.

Then at about 3.15am on March 28 three vehicles were set alight barely 400m away in Kay Street.

Another vehicle was pushed and set on fire in Kay Street about 3.15am the day after that.

Three white youths were reportedly seen in the area at the time of these offences.

Detective Constable Alison Kay, for GMP’s Bury division, said: "Any arson attack can be incredibly dangerous but the fire by the gas mains could have been potentially fatal.

"We are lucky more damage wasn’t caused and no one was injured.

"All of these fires have been mindless acts by offenders who clearly have no respect for the community’s safety or property.

"I would urge anyone who might have seen anything in the area at the time of the offences to please call police."

Anyone with any information should call 101 quoting crime reference number 074773E/16 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.