A COMMUNITY was left counting the cost of a trail of destruction yesterday morning following a series of arson attacks.

A caravan was torched on the site of last weekend's Lowland Games at Thorney, Muchelney, at around 4am, before three barns containing 30 tonnes of hay, were set alight opposite Muchelney Abbey an hour later.

A marquee and vintage truck were also destroyed at the site of the games, which had been enjoyed by thousands of people last Sunday.

Firefighters from Somerton and Martock worked to quell the flames and police have launched an appeal for witnesses.

Shocked by the extent of the damage, games organiser Andy Wakely said: "There is complete destruction. Someone has gone in with a digger and trashed the marquee and then set the caravan on fire. They have also smashed all the windows in a vintage truck.

"I don't know why someone would do this. It took 12 months of hard work organising it and it had been a good event and raised a lot of money for charity."

Rod Baillie-Grohman, who lives near the games site, was woken at around 3.45am to the sound of the fire.

He said: "I could hear the sound of pops and bangs and then I heard the crackling of fire. I went outside and was surprised to see a fire engine go past. I got to the Lowland Games site and saw the aftermath of the inferno and a marquee wrapped around a digger. It's so unfortunate because everyone hard worked hard and it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth."

Firefighters from Martock put out the caravan fire shortly after 4am and then, an hour later, they were joined by reinforcements from their station and the one at Somerton to deal with the barn fire around the corner.

A spokesman for the fire service said the two incidents were being treated as deliberate acts.

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for witnesses following two suspicious fires during the early hours of Wednesday. The first incident happened at about 4.30am in Thorney, near Langport, when a caravan was set on fire.

"The fire spread to a nearby field, which is the site of the Lowland Games. Criminal damage was also caused to a marquee in the field.

"At about 5.20am police were made aware of a second fire at a property in Muchelney. Three barns were set alight. The two incidents could be connected and extensive damage has been caused.

"We would like to speak to the driver of a white Transit-type van which is believed to have been in the area at the time of the incidents."

Anyone with any information can call the police on 08454 567000.

Lowland Games report: Page 9