Police have stepped up patrols to reassure people living in two villages following a series of deliberate fires.

Both uniform and plain clothes officers have been providing extra cover in Trimley St Martin and Trimley St Mary and officers say they are determined there will be no future incidents.

Arsonists struck three times in the villages last month, with a car set alight at Trimley Sports and Social Club, an historic barn destroyed and cars damaged at the rear of the Three Mariners, and a blaze which wrecked the Memorial Hall.

Officers have also revealed there has been a series of wheelie bin fires in nearby Felixstowe.

Pc Dave Gledhill, beat officer for the villages, said investigations were still ongoing into the incidents.

He said: “A number of resources have been put in place to investigate these offences and try to prevent further offences from occurring.

“These fires are being taken very seriously. We know there has been a great deal of concern.

“We are carrying out extra patrols in both villages involving uniformed and plain clothes officers, and these patrols will continue, and a number of avenues of inquiry are still being pursued.”

Villagers are waiting for their insurers to agree the finance for Memorial Hall before rebuilding work can start at the much-used community venue.

John Sills, vice-chairman of Trimley St Martin Parish Council, said: “The loss adjusters believe the walls are sound and we will need a new roof and floor, but we haven’t as yet had a structural engineer look at the building.

“We are waiting, too, for our insurers to agree liabilities.”

Trimley Sports and Social Club, the Trimley (Cranfield) Bowls Club and Felixstowe Colneis Girl Guides have all offered their premises as alternative venues to the many organisations which use the building until the renovation is complete.