GARDENERS at an allotment were the unlikely heroes after they sprang into action over the weekend to extinguish a fire that had been deliberately started near houses and a school.

Half a dozen growers from Newport used their watering cans to douse the flames after young arsonists set dry grass ablaze on Saturday afternoon.

The fire was quickly put out by members of the St Julians Allotments, an 86-plot site based off Bank Street, close to the Glebelands Recreation Grounds.

The blaze briefly raged near homes on Charnwood Road and Glan Usk Primary School and is believed to have been started by four young boys who were aged between 12 and 14.

Allotment member Andrew Johnston, 49, said: “My wife and I both saw four children messing around with dry grass at around 2.20pm and within a few minutes where we were working was carpeted in smoke.

“The fire was only about 20 to 30 yards from houses on Charnwood Road, near Stockton Road, and only around 50 to 100 yards from Glan Usk Primary School.

“Potentially, it was a real dangerous situation.”

Mr Johnston added: “This is the latest in a very long line of incidents of anti-social behaviour, which have also included drug dealing and taking, in and around the underpass.”

A South Wales Fire Service spokeswoman confirmed they attended the scene and that the blaze was started deliberately.

She said a fire engine from the city’s Maindee station was sent.