A HUGE community drive has been launched by police as they step up their efforts to catch the Castlefield arsonists and reassure residents.

Thames Valley Police have started rolling patrols in the area with up to five officers manning the area at all times in a bid to gain the confidence of the Castlefield community.

The Bucks Free Press followed Sgt Luke Pillinger and Sgt Gerry Byrne, one of two teams out on patrol on Wednesday evening, as they toured the estate to speak to residents and keep a watchful eye out for potential attacks.

But despite police efforts a Spearing Road home was hit by arsonists later the same evening.

Sgt Pillinger said: “This is a priority for us, we will have officers up here at all times over the coming days and weeks to reassure people that we are around and we are doing all we can to catch the offenders.

“There's two teams of officers out at the moment and what we are doing is driving around the area to remain visible and keep a general look out for anything untoward.

“We're also stopping off in the areas of the estate that have been badly hit by the attacks and generally getting out to have a walk around the estate so we can talk to as many people we can and gain some potentially vital information.”

The officers took the Bucks Free Press on a tour of the estate, which took in the gutted shell of a house in Chiltern Avenue which was destroyed by fire, before we pulled up outside the shops in Rutland Avenue to continue the patrol on foot.

We strolled down Spearing Road, taking in several of the small service roads which branch off it, stopping regularly to speak to residents of all ages, Sgt Byrne paused for a game of football with ten children.

He said: “It's about building trust, someone around here knows something and we need the help of the community to help us paint a picture and get to the bottom of these attacks.”

One worried resident told the police how his family were scared to go to sleep at night following the attacks, while another handed the officers a potential lead.

Sgt Pillinger said: “People are genuinely living in fear and most want to help us catch the offenders, we do meet a few people that perhaps say things just to be seen talking to the police, but at the end of the day being out in the community is the best way to stop these attacks.”

Anyone with information about the attacks can contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505, alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.