Homeless people’s tents set on fire in city centre

Tents along with clothes, bedding and possessions were destroyed in Newport.

Cruel arsonists have torched tents in Newport city centre that homeless people sleep in.

The tents along with clothes, bedding and possessions were set on fire at around 6pm last night.

Police investigating the fire in the Welsh city said there were no injuries as the tents were empty at the time.

Firefighters rushed to the scene underneath a flyover but the tents had been completely destroyed.

Hayley Thomas regularly visits Newport city centre to provide homeless people with food, bedding, tents and clothes.

She said: ‘We know that there are cameras just above and we were told the police are looking at CCTV.

‘But that doesn’t help the situation for these people.

‘There certainly wasn’t anyone in the tents at the time so it wasn’t by accident or anything like that.’

Hayley believes five people were living in the tents, including one couple.

One had been left by a young man who had recently been found a place in a hostel.

Hayley has been attempting to collect donations of replacement tents, clothing and bedding for each of the victims of the fire.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said officers are treating the fire as deliberate and enquiries are ongoing.