IT hasn’t taken the heath fire arsonists long to make their mark this year.

With the storms gone and drier conditions taking their place, so the number of deliberate blazes has increased.

Purbeck was hit by three such attacks in one day last week. Arsonists torched heathland at Studland, Sandford and Worgret.

This repeats similar incidents in that area just over a year ago.

Our heathland remains a precious commodity. If the arsonists are caught they should be dealt with as severely as the law allows.