ARSON attacks in Cheshire have fallen during the coronavirus lockdown.

Data from a Freedom of Information request to the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service shows that 137 arson incidents were recorded across the county in March and April 2020.

That compares to 214 incidents in 2019, and 218 in 2017.

However, this year’s score is four higher than the same period in 2018.

Andy Gray, deliberate fire reduction manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Although the figures show a reduction in the number of arson incidents in Cheshire between the start of March and the end of April in comparison to last year, there was still a significant number of fires started deliberately in the county.

“This was despite the whole country being in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The vast majority of the incidents were small fires started as part of anti-social behaviour.

“Such fires take up a large amount of our firefighters’ time.

"Our crews could be putting out these avoidable fires when they should be helping someone whose life may be in danger at a house fire or the scene of a road traffic collision."