FIREFIGHTERS were called to a fire in Southampton in the latest of a string of arsons in the city.

The incident was attended by emergency services who say this is being treated as linked to a series of arsons in Thornhill over the past weeks.

Two crews from Hightown Fire Station were called to an address on Ellwood Avenue in Thornhill at around 4.12am on Thursday June 4, after receiving reports that a garden shed was up in flames.

They arrived and discovered that the shed was completely destroyed and the fire had spread to a neighbouring structure.

Fire crews extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus, two hose reels and one jet, before informing the police and leaving the scene at around 4.43am.

Daily Echo:

Now, Hampshire Fire have warned residents that demands placed on the fire service by “needless incidents” means less resources are available to deal with serious, life-threatening incidents.

A spokesperson said: “The demands placed upon the fire service in dealing with these kinds of needless incidents means additional resources may have to be brought in to the local area to tackle other incidents nearby.

"These incidents may be more serious, perhaps even life- threatening.

“We encourage all Southampton residents to be aware and report any suspicious behaviours to the police immediately by calling 101 or 999.”

This comes shortly after a police investigation was launched in response to a series of arson incidents in the Thornhill Park area.

Now Hampshire Police have confirmed that this incident is being treated as linked to their investigation.

A spokesperson said: .

“We were called at 4.45am to a report of a shed on fire at a property on Ellwood Avenue. The shed and its contents were destroyed.

"The fire also damaged a neighbouring shed and fence.”

To see the full list of Thornhill arson incidents involved in the police investigation, visit dailyecho.co.uk.

The full list of the other incidents involved in the police investigation is as follows:

A fire caused serious damage to a shed in Thornhill Avenue, Southampton in the early hours of May 30. The incident occurred at around 1.45am. Hampshire Fire and Rescue attended and alerted police.

- Between 4am and 4.30am on May 23, the front of a shed at a property in Cowper Road was damaged by fire. Damage was also caused to some items inside, including a mobility scooter.

- On May 22, Hampshire Fire and Rescue were called to a mobility scooter on fire outside a block of flats in Warburton Road. The scooter was completely burnt out. The owner of the scooter has not yet been traced.

- At 4.30am on May 19, we received a call from a member of the public reporting that the road sign for Douglas Crescent was on fire.

- A bin fire was then reported in Upper Deacon Road at around 4.40am on the same date (May 19). The bin was on the driveway of a house.

- At 5.10am on May 12, a shed and fence were damaged by a fire at a property in Masefield Green.

- Between 12am and 8.30am on May 11, a wheelie bin and glass box was damaged by fire at a property in Byron Road. The items had been left on the driveway.

- On April 29, we received a call at 5.25am to a report of a garage on fire at an address in Medwall Green.

- On April 19, at 12.54pm, we received a report of a garden waste bag that was on fire between 4am and 4.40am outside an address on Cowper Road. Hampshire Fire and Rescue had attended.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting the reference number of 44200198175.