Police have issued a warning following reports of young people setting off exploding aerosol cans and causing 'deliberate fires on multiple occasions' at spot near Leamington.

Over the past week, Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service have been called to The Holt in Lillington several times, following reports of fires in the wooded area.

Leamington Police has said this "is particularly concerning" with some of the young people involved placing aerosol cans inside cardboard boxes before setting them alight, causing the aerosols to explode.

Officers have also expressed the extreme danger of partaking in such activities, with the risk of serious injuries not only to those lighting the fires but also to anyone nearby, including bystanders.

It comes during a time when the weather has been particularly dry and hot over the recent summer months.

"It would only take one gust of wind for a small fire to become a major incident" shared Leamington Police.

According to Police, some of the young people involved have already been identified.

Now, officers are requesting parents and carers to have a conversation with their children and young people in their family to ensure they know the risks of causing fires.

advertisement

Leamington Police further highlighted: "It only takes one poor decision for a child to be left with catastrophic injuries, or worse. We'd far rather see a young person annoyed because their parent came to collect them than stand with a family after a preventable tragedy wondering if anything more could have been done.

"The repeated incidents are also understandably causing significant concern for residents living nearby. No one wants to look out of their window wondering whether this will be the day a fire gets out of control."