Charges laid over Westport arsons

Police have charged a man with arson in relation to three fires. Photo / File

Police have charged a 22-year-old man with arson in relation to three fires in Westport's main street in recent months.

The man was arrested in Christchurch last week and subsequently appeared in Christchurch District Court where he was bailed to reside in Christchurch.

Detective Dean Schrader said the man was a transient visitor who was only in Westport for a brief period.

The first of the three fires, on February 28, badly damaged the house of an elderly man living in Palmerston St, near Mill St.

The second was lit inside the garage of the next-door property on March 8.

On April 1 clothing drying on a clotheshorse on the porch of a Palmerston St property was set alight.

Community Constable Paul Sampson said the result was the culmination of a concerted effort by local Westport police officers and the West Coast CIB to make an arrest.

- Westport News