NEIGHBOURS say they remain concerned for the safety of a former nuclear scientist after a series of fires at his Abingdon home.

Shop manager Mark Thornton said action was needed over the dangerous activities of Martin Cresdee.

The appeal came after a series of incidents over the past month which followed the arrest of Mr Cresdee in February for carrying a knife in public.

Father-of-two Mr Thornton, who runs Mostly Books in Stert Street, alerted the Oxford Mail after the emergency services were called to the Hobbs Close home on Monday night.

Mr Thornton said the incident followed a similar emergency on August 14 and called for action to be taken.

He said: "Something needs to be done before Mr Cresdee kills himself, or burns his house down and injures someone else.

"There have been four incidents like this in the past four or five weeks when the emergency services have been called out. On Monday a police car was parked in my drive and there were two fire engines, two police cars and an ambulance.

"There are about 35 houses in the close and what is happening is creating a real feeling of unease."

Mr Thornton, who lives with wife Nicki and two sons, said he sympathised with Mr Cresdee but did not think he has been getting the "right kind of help."

Nick Walker, another neighbour, said: "The main concern I and his immediate neighbours have is that at some point Martin's smoke alarm may go off and people may either not hear it and so not react or hear it and dismiss it as attention-seeking behaviour.

"Either of which could, obviously, potentially lead to tragic consequences."

Following the latest fire, Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams said: "We were called at 11.01pm and arrested a 63-year-old man from Abingdon on suspicion of arson. He was later released without charge."

Mr Cresdee worked for the Atomic Energy Authority at Culham for 20 years but walked out in 1992 after an argument with his boss. He then had a breakdown and has not worked since.

He has lived alone after his wife was taken into care in 2008.

In February residents called for Mr Cresdee, who also appeared on Mastermind, to receive mental health treatment.

He was sentenced to 56 days in prison for a series of petty offences but then returned home.

Mr Cresdee could be sectioned under the Mental Health Act for his own safety, or for the safety of others, but only after he has been fully assessed by medical professionals.

While it would not comment on individual cases, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said patients need to co-operate to a certain degree.

Spokesman Charvy Narain said: "Sometimes people may not want to initially engage with our services, but we will work with the system (which includes GPs, partner agencies, the voluntary sector and other statutory services) to address their needs."