Fire appeal to residents

The county's fire crime officer today appealed for information after a pet cat was found dead after a double arson attack on an Oswestry block of flats.

The family cat was found curled up on a sofa which had been deliberately set on fire inside a store cupboard yesterday morning (wed) at a block of flats at Castlefields.

The fire was put out by fire crews at 10.30am after an intruder had got into the storage area to carry out the arson attack.

In a second similar Attack later in the day, fire crews from Oswestry were again called out when a brick store shed was slightly damaged after a mattress was set alight at 8pm.

Oswestry firefighter Alan Walker said: "We found the small tabby cat with white paws curled up dead on the sofa which had been set alight. We have tried to trace the owner."

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's fire crime officer Derek Taylor said: "Somebody must know something about this. I appeal for them to call police or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact us at the fire station. This was two deliberate attacks."

18th February, 2010