WATCH: CCTV footage captures arson on Milton Keynes estate

The images show a male deliberately setting fire to a wheelie bin and pallets in Pencarrow Place/Penryn Avenue in the early hours on Sunday moning.

Fire crews from Broughton, Newport Pagnell and Great Holm were called to tackle the blaze, which spread to a shop front and first-floor flat.

One resident told the Citizen: “This is the fourth time the same shop and flat have been targeted in the last three years. Someone set fire to the same place twice in 2014 and 2015 and the third time someone set the shops truck on fire.

“This fire caused thousands of pounds of damage and spread up the side of the block of flats too, endangering lives. It could have killed people if the fire service had not got there in time.

“Residents have been left traumatised. The lady living in the flats directly above is 28 weeks pregnant and had to run down two flights of stairs at 1.30am. She was absolutely petrified and crying with fear.

The resident added: “The estate has a bad reputation and police just dismiss these type of things as another bit of trouble on the estate. Does someone have to lose their live before these fires are taken seriously?”

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “We are investigating this as an arson and appeal to anyone with information to call 101 and quote reference 43170373436.

“We have carried out house to house enquiries and are reviewing CCTV provided by the victim.”