Members of the Arson Reduction Team have launched a campaign in a bid to reduce the number of deliberate grass fires in the Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bangor areas of the Easter holidays.

These two areas were chosen because they were the areas that suffered from the most deliberate grass fires over the Easter period last year.

Members of the team, as well as School Liaison Officers from North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, are currently out and about promoting this campaign by visiting primary schools, youth clubs and supermarkets to highlight that Maesgeirchen in Bangor and Blaenau Ffestiniog will be under surveillance during the Easter Holidays this year.

Other activities are also taking place such as a leaflet drop to every house in Maesgeirchen and an area of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Large display boards have been installed to promote the dangers of setting deliberate fires and the effect on the community. A posters competition is taking place at local schools in both of these areas with a chance for two youngsters to win an iPod shuffle.

Kevin Jones, Arson Reduction Manager, said: "We looked at our statistics over the Easter period last year and these two areas had the highest number of deliberate grass fires which is why we are carrying out this campaign in these areas.

"Hopefully by raising the profile of the work that the Arson Reduction Team is doing in these areas and by informing the residents that these areas will be watched by the police and firefighters over Easter we will be able to bring these statistics down this year.

"By getting the community involved in our campaign we are hoping that everyone will realise the consequences of deliberate fires and that when crews are attending these fires they could be needed for life saving at other incidents in the area."