A blaze tackled by firefighters in Cassiobury Park is thought to have been started by a group of troublesome youths.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at around 4pm on Tuesday to reports of a fire in grassland off Cassiobury Park Avenue.

Two fire engines from Watford were sent to the scene and had the blaze under control in under an hour.

However the area around the orchard, planted by Nascot Wood School students, was partially damaged. The kitchen garden area behind the bowls club was also scorched.

One resident, who says there have been increasingly frequent instances of anti-social behaviour in the area, “strongly suspects” the fire was started deliberately by a group of youths who visit the park after school.

He also said a bench used by the teens has recently been vandalised and now looks “beyond repair”.

“It is a pity that this type of behaviour persists given the effort put in by the council and the Friends of Cassiobury Park to create and maintain a superb local amenity,” he added.