ARSONISTS who started forest and grass fires cost Gwent fire service more than £15 million last year, it has revealed.

And now South Wales fire service is launching a major crackdown in a bid to cut the number of deliberately-started blazes - such as those which recently devastated areas of the Gwent Valleys like Wattsville.

The service went through an "extraordinarily busy" period over the Easter holiday, when it was called to more than 1,000 mountainside and grass fires that had been started deliberately.

One forest fire in Wattsville, which raged for more than two days, needed 100 firefighters to bring it under control.

Around 40 people had to be evacuated as fire swept within 50 feet of their homes.

Now there are fears more fires could be started during the coming summer months.

Chief Fire Officer Brian Fraser says he is "extremely concerned" about the dramatic increase in the number of arson incidents.

"Not only are grass fires dangerous and illegal, more importantly they are stopping our crews from being available to attend calls such as house fires and road accidents," he said.

"Our resources are limited and if we are up on the mountains the crews cannot be in the towns and villages where they may be needed to save a life. Put simply, we cannot be in two places at once."

The cost of the fires in Gwent was: Blaenau Gwent - £2,466,100; Caerphilly - £4,249,300; Mon-mouthshire - £625,100; Newport - £4,094,300; Torfaen - £2,121,900.

Divisional Officer Mick Flanagan, who is in charge of fire investigations, said a new "arson awareness" campaign aims to educate people, and parents are being asked to remain vigilant and ensure children know the dangers of starting fires.

"We want to make arson as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving is," he said."We are also working with the police to catch the people responsible for these fires - they will be prosecuted without a doubt. We would also love to see tougher penalties than currently exist. But what we really want is for people to respect their community and to enjoy the outdoors without harming it."

The six-week campaign will involve radio, press and bus advertising. Mobile posters will also be driven through the main areas affected by the fires.

Tony Edwards, who runs the Troed-y- Rhiw environmental project for adults with learning difficulties in the Hafod Tudor valley, Wattsville, had to evacuate residents during the recent forest fires, which swept to within a few feet of one of the houses.

"It is a serious concern that this could happen again - we so nearly lost the house last time," he said.

* In the picture: A forest fire rages at Twmbarlwm earlier this year.