AN investigation has been launched after palm trees in Bournemouth’s award-winning Lower Gardens suffered fire damage.

Firefighters from Westbourne were alerted at 11pm on Wednesday following reports that a palm tree had been set alight.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said officers had been called because the blaze was believed to have been started maliciously.

This afternoon firefighters were back in the gardens, by the entrance from The Square, following reports that two palm trees were on fire.

One fire crew from Westbourne attended and extinguished the flames within half an hour using ladders, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera.

Watch manager Paul Ticehurst said: “It looks as though one tree caught fire and then ignited the other.

“There was a fire in the gardens last night and it is difficult to put them out in these trees as they are made of fibrous material – and the weather doesn’t help.

“We have given it a good dousing with the hose and used the thermal-imaging camera to check for any remaining hot spots.”

With large numbers of holiday-makers making their way through the gardens and watching entertainments in the square, firefighters cordoned off the area with tape, but the diversion attracted a small crowd of on-lookers.

Andy McDonald, Bournemouth council’s parks manager, said: “Whilst we were unhappy to find out that one of our palm trees had been scorched, we do not expect there to be any long term damage.

“We hope that residents and visitors continue to come to the town to enjoy the beautiful gardens we work hard to maintain.”