ARSONISTS struck several times in Penge and Beckenham overnight causing damage to a shop, a house, a school and a van.

The first incident took place just before midnight at the back of the shops in Central Parade, High Street.

Someone had set fire to a bin which caused an air conditioning unit to catch light.

Smoke from the blaze drifted to the flats above the shops and six people had to leave their homes while firefighters dealt with the incident.

The crew from Beckenham fire station managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the inside of the premises, which is believed to be a tanning shop.

Homeowners were allowed to return to the flats after around 30 minutes once the fire was out.

A VW van was completely destroyed after it was set fire in Mosslea Road at around 1.50am.

Firefighters were at the scene for about an hour and were then called to a bin fire in nearby Crampton Road on their way back to Beckenham fire station.

This incident, which was believed to have involved a wheelie bin, caused minor damage to the outside of a house.

The crew was at the scene for around 25 minutes.

All of the above incidents are believed to have been started by the same group of people and have been reported to the police.

Firefighters suspect a different person is responsible for the fire at Balgowan Primary School, Balgowan Road, Beckenham.

They were called to the school at around 1.30am this morning (August 10) after someone set fire to the sign on the gates.

A neighbour threw a bucket of water over the sign and the flames were out by the time the fire crew arrived.