The call comes from the Safer Telford and Wrekin Partnership following a rise in the amount of rubbish fires in the area recently, with incidents reported in Dunsheath, Downton Court and Duffryn.

West Mercia Police has pledged to step up patrols in the affected streets and is working closely with the Council, Wrekin Housing Trust, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as local residents.

Councillor Miles Hosken, cabinet member for Community Protection, said: “I want residents in Hollinswood to be assured that we are very much aware of the problem and that we are doing everything we can to work with partner agencies to prevent such incidents.

“Residents can help us do this by ensuring their wheelie bins are kept in a safe and secure place and also by not putting out their rubbish or recycling until the morning of the collection.

“We would also like to remind residents in Hollinswood that their rubbish and recycling are collected on alternate Thursdays and that their nearest Community Recycling Centre is at Ketley.”

Acting Chief Inspector Keith Gee, of West Mercia Police, said: “We are working with our partners to address this problem and will be stepping up patrols in the area to tackle the issue.

“We will be doing all we can to trace the individuals responsible for starting these fires and would warn them that they will be dealt with robustly when they are identified.”