AN ARSON attack on a breeding ground for rare birds and wildlife in Weymouth could have had ‘horrific consequences’, fire and nature reserve bosses said.

Children are thought to have been behind the blaze, which destroyed a 12-metre by three-metre area of reeds at the Lodmoor Nature Reserve – home to rare nesting birds, harvest mice and insects.

Nick Tomlinson, site manager for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) sites in Weymouth, said: “I can’t emphasise enough how lucky we are that the fire did not spread.

“It could have been extremely damaging to rare birds, such as bearded tits who have had a very hard winter just gone and whose population are quite a bit smaller this year.

“Had the fire gone out of control and spread, who knows what damage could have been done.

“We’re full-on with nesting birds at the moment – it’s quite a critical time and there’s a lot of other wildlife like harvest mice and insects that live in the reeds.”

The attack coincided with the RSPB’s weekend of Spring Watch half-term activities at its Radipole nature reserve.

Mr Tomlinson said arson attacks were fortunately rare on the resort’s urban nature reserves but the reed beds were particularly vulnerable as the blaze would have spread quickly if it had taken hold.

He added: “I’m really pleased with how quickly the fire service responded.

“The firefighters in Weymouth are cracking guys and obviously they got out there very quickly.”

Weymouth firefighters were alerted by concerned members of the public at 6.56pm on Friday and were on the scene, near Weymouth Bay Avenue, by 7pm.

Weymouth fire station manager Phil Head said: “Unfortunately it looks like it was children who were responsible for the fire.

“A bystander saw some children, who may have been involved, running away.

“We believe it was deliberate and it could have had horrific consequences, killing wildlife and natural habitat and posing a risk to members of the public and firefighter personnel.

“Fighting fires in reed beds poses significant challenges because it’s unstable ground.

“On this occasion firefighters and the reed beds had a lucky escape as the fire went out on its own but any deliberate fire we would much rather not have as it takes up our resources, which are obviously very important any time of the year.

“We would ask people to be vigilant and if they see anyothing suspicious to report it immediately and ask people to be careful particularly when it’s dry.”

He added: “Lodmoor Country Park is quite close to properties in Weymouth Bay Avenue and if the winds were blowing in the wrong direction, any fire could spread.

“People need to bear in mind that a thoughtless act like this could have significant ramifications.”