A police investigation has started following an incident of arson on the grounds of Malmesbury Abbey during the weekend.

At around 9.45pm on Friday, June 3, police officers were called to the incident in Abbey Row where three bins had been set on fire.

The fire is understood to have started when yobs set fire to waste and refuse outside the abbey, which dates from the 12th century.

The fire service was also called and the fire was extinguished.

Police have now said that they believe the fire was started deliberately and would urge anyone who witnessed anybody acting suspiciously in the area prior to the fire taking place to call police on 101.

They're also interested in seeing any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area at that time.

No arrests have been made,

Inspector James Brain of Wiltshire Police said: "We understand the upset this incident has caused to the local community and we are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible.

"There have been ongoing issues in Malmesbury recently with a small group of individuals acting in an anti-social manner causing problems for residents. I must stress this is a very small group of people.

"I’d like to reassure residents that we understand their concerns and are working closely with partners to come up with the best solution to these issues. Anti-social behaviour can really impact on a close-knit community like Malmesbury."

A spokeswoman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service said that a crew from Chippenham were called out to the blaze at 9.12pm last night.

They used one hose reel, drags and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the fire, said a spokeswoman in fire control.

Malmesbury Abbey is one of the oldest and most important religious sites in England with a history going back to at least the 7th century. 

The Grade I listed abbey is built on the site of a former Saxon monastery dating back to AD700.

Athelstan, the first king of all England, was buried in Malmesbury Abbey when he died in 939.

By the 12th-century it was an important Benedictine Abbey and a noted seat of learning.

At that time it possessed the second largest library in Europe and one of its community was the 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury.

It was given a Grade I listing in 1949, having survived previous fires and the English Civil War.