FOUR families were forced from their homes in Co Down after an oil tank was set alight in a suspected arson attack.
Police said a wheelie bin is believed to have been set on fire and pushed against oil tanks in the Bracken Avenue area of Newcastle at around 1.30am on Sunday.
Substantial damage was caused to four properties and fencing. Police said the fire was being treated as deliberate.
It follows a number of similar arson attacks in the Bracken Avenue area last year.
Twelve properties were evacuated last November when an oil tank was set alight, damaging four flats.
It was believed at the time that police were linking the attack to another three previous oil tank arsons in the same street.
SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie said: "Four families have been forced from their homes and are now picking up the pieces from this senseless and deplorable act of destruction. I'm sure it has caused them great distress and our thoughts will be with them in the time ahead."
She added: "This is not the first time that this has happened and it is very fortunate that nobody was harmed.
"That their lives were put in danger is utterly shameful and beyond the danger posed to the families, the deliberate destruction of social housing at a time when waiting lists are so long is deeply disappointing."
Meanwhile, the front door of a house was set alight in a suspected arson attack in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
A man and woman were inside the property at Trasna Way when the fire was started on Saturday at around 1am but escaped through the back door.
Police said substantial damage was caused to the front door and hallway and there was smoke damage throughout the property.
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart said: "This is a very worrying turn of events in a quiet residential area. We could have been dealing with the loss of life and a family bereaved because of this house fire".
A man and a woman also escaped injury following a fire in Ballycastle.
The blaze started at a flat in the Broombeg area of the Co Antrim town on Saturday shortly before 2am.
The couple escaped by climbing out of the first floor window onto a porch.
Police said damage was caused to the front door and stairwell and it is believed the fire was started deliberately.
