ARSON attacks on cars across Bolton have cost the fire brigade more than £500,000 in the past 12 months.

There have been 120 car fires in Bolton between April, 2011, to March this year, at an average cost to the taxpayer of £4,660 per vehicle.

That figure takes into account the cost of the fire service responding to the call with back-up from other stations, property damage, criminal justice costs and other consequential costs.

Last month, there were 18 car fires in Bolton, the largest number since January, 2011, including five in one night in Smithills, four in Astley Bridge and three in Halliwell. Ian Bailey, Bolton’s borough commander for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is dangerous and it is drawing fire service resources away from the position of being able to respond to lifethreatening incidents more quickly.”

In the previous 12 months, there were several spates of car fires in Kearsley, including 15 in one month, which led to a large police investigation.

Several of the car fires have spread to homes.

An elderly couple were lucky to escape when their home in Oakenclough Drive, Smithills, caught fire after arsonists targeted their car. Olywnn Travis dragged her 73-year-old husband, Bernard, to safety.

Mrs Travis and her husband, who suffers from cancer, have been forced to stay in a hotel and will not be able to return home for six months.

This year there have been 277 “primary fires”, which include those deliberately started on cars, homes, sheds, outhouses and buildings — 43 per cent of these were car fires.

Mr Bailey said: “We would appeal to people to let us know if they have seen something. It may not be them this time, but it might be them next time.”

The fire service is working with the police to try to cut the number of arson attacks.

The number has fallen compared to the previous 12 months when there were 169 car arsons between April, 2010, and March, 2011.