EXTRA funding has led to a significant drop in cases of arson across North Yorkshire.

Deliberate fires dropped by 8.9 per cent in the 12 months up to April this year, compared to the previous year.

The reduction comes after the Government gave £30,000 to the county's fire service to set up an arson task force.

Mick Brighton, North Yorkshire arson task force manager, said it had targeted deliberate fires and hoax calls.

Firefighters had been given extra training and had targeted young people through visits to primary and secondary schools, as well as science and careers fairs.

Youth intervention programmes had been set up, giving officers the opportunity to meet young fire-starters to talk about the consequences of their actions.

More than 100 youngsters had been seen so far, said Mr Brighton.

The fire service has also advised local authorities on the disposal of abandoned cars and reducing fly-tipping and the number of derelict buildings to remove possible arson targets.

Young Firefighters schemes have been set up in the south of the county, and two more are being planned for Bedale and Northallerton as the programme expands.

Mr Brighton said: "We have used a very broad brush approach to arson. We haven't concentrated on one particular aspect, we have just blitzed them all.

"The benefits to the community are that there are now less car fires, less house fires and less supermarkets burning down.

"Four years ago, we did not concentrate on arson, but now we seem to have hit the right note and, hopefully, we will see this downward trend continuing."

The success of the North Yorkshire arson task force was highlighted in a government report that was released yesterday.

It showed that there were about 950 arson attacks committed in North Yorkshire in 2002/03.

In 2003/04, this figure had been reduced to 860.

Mr Brighton is looking for North Yorkshire businesses to help fund the youth intervention programme.

More information is available by calling him on (01609) 788546.