FIRESTARTERS as young as four are being targeted in a new initiative launched by North Yorkshire fire chiefs.

The Child Firesetter Network is designed to help youngsters get over the dangerous habit before it has dire consequences.

Mick Brighton, a fire safety co-ordinator for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, said the scheme was aimed at youngsters who showed an addictive tendency towards starting fires.

"We're dealing with kids as young as four setting fires," he said.

"We have set up a hotline for concerned parents to contact us so we can help their children deal with the problem as early as possible."

Mr Brighton said a pilot scheme in York had had a 95 per cent success rate.

Meanwhile, the number of arson cases in York and North Yorkshire has dropped - largely because of the recent fire strikes.

In North Yorkshire the number of cases dropped from 912 in 2001/2002 to 831 in 2002/2003, and in York the figure has plummeted from 363 cases to 293.

But in Selby District, the number of deliberate fires has shown a slight increase from 116 to 119.

Mr Brighton said the fire strikes made people more aware of safety issues and observant. "It's very ironic," he said. "The drop in deliberate fires is also because our fire safety initiatives are starting to kick in." The freephone number for the Child Fire Setter Network is 0800 074 0064.

The Evening Press reported yesterday how youths had driven into Joseph Rowntree School and rammed a van against a steel fence before setting it on fire.

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, May 29, 2003