Police investigating a spate of arsons across the city have made three arrests.

Police investigating a spate of arsons across the city have made three arrests.

The trio, all boys aged 15, 16 17 all from the Norwich area, were detained yesterday morning and were released on bail last night.

Investigating officer PC Craig Bidwell said the boys had 'all been spoken to and interviewed. Inquiries are continuing.'

Police have been investigating a series of arsons at different Norwich locations in recent days.

Three of the incidents have been reported in the Evening News.

But police yesterday disclosed they were linking eight attacks, including incidents in Constitution Hill and Shipfield Road in the early hours of the morning on September 7 and St Clement's Hill in the early hours of September 11.

A police spokesman said: 'Inquiries are continuing into these incidents and patrols have been increased in the local area.'

And although arrests have been made, police insisted they were keeping an open mind over the attacks and encouraged anyone with information about the arsons to come forward.

On September 11, fire crews from Sprowston, Carrow and Earlham were called to a house on St Clement's Hill at around 3am.

It is believed that a hedgerow was set on fire and the blaze then spread to a garage and a house, setting fire to two cars, damaging the front and side of the property. Nobody was injured.

Norwich Policing Commander, Superintendent Dave Marshall said: 'This is a very serious offence which has the potential for unintended consequences.'

The incident followed two arson attacks on September 7, one on Constitution Hill between midnight and 12.35am and the second in Shipfield Road between 1am and 1.40am.

In the first attack, a conifer hedgerow was set on fire, which damaged overhead cables, guttering and window frames.

In the second, a wheelie bin behind a property was set alight.

The latest arson, which police do not believe is linked to the other attacks, happened on Philadelphia Lane in Hellesdon.

Nobody was hurt, but there was smoke damage to the property.

The arsons come after a summer campaign aimed at cracking down on arson.

The Strike Out initiative was launched by Norfolk Police, supported by the Fire service and the Norfolk Safer Schools Partnerships after a number of arsons in the north of the city during the summer months last year.

The initiative saw groups visit schools to educate young people on the danger of starting fires and worked with shops to ban the sale of lighters, matches and accelerants to under-18s.

Local policing commander Inspector Nick Hewitt said: 'Although there is no legal age to buy lighters and matches, many of the shops and retailers in our community recognise their responsibility in helping to prevent this type of crime.

'Arson is an extremely serious crime which can not only cause significant damage but also potentially threaten lives.'

Anyone with information about the arsons should contact PC Craig Bidwell on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.