Police are appealing for information to trace an arsonist who has been setting fire to For Sale signs in and around Headington.

There have been nine incidents within the past two weeks where signs have been set alight.

PC Zoe Eele said: “Most of these fires have been started along the London Road, which is a busy road at all times of the day with traffic coming in and out of the city, and I believe someone must have seen something.

“Other than destroying the signs, the fires haven’t caused too much damage and we are keen to catch the person responsible before it potentially escalates and someone gets hurt.

"I would urge anyone with information about these incidents to come forward and speak to me as soon as possible.”

The following is a list of all the offences that are believed to be linked:

  • The first incident was outside a property in London Road, where police and fire were called to reports of a sign on fire at 4.22am on 13 March.
  • Two days later at 3.53am on 15 March, paramedics travelling along the London Road saw a sign on fire. The paramedics pulled the sign down and extinguished the flames, which were starting to spread to a connecting fence.
  • Another sign in London Road was also set alight on 15 March, some time between 9am and 10pm.
  • Overnight between 21 March and 22 March a sign in London Road was set alight.
  • Another sign was also set alight overnight between 21 March and 22 March in Delbush Avenue.
  • On 22 March there were two more incidents in London Road shortly before 4am. At one of the properties, damage was caused to a fence, but the fire did not spread any further.
  • A sign outside a property in London Road was set alight at around 3.16am on 25 March.
  • The last incident in the series was on 26 March when a sign was set alight outside a property in Merewood Avenue in Sandhills. Anyone with information should contact PC Eele via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.