A SERIAL arsonist who has left a multi-million pound trail of destruction in his wake has struck again.

Police have confirmed that the fire-raiser, already thought to be behind six attacks across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in the past year, is believed to have struck a further three times in recent months.

Detectives are now launching a nationwide appeal through the Crimewatch TV programme later this month to catch the arsonist, who targets haulage yards and vehicle depots, before he kills.

The latest confirmed attacks were all in Newcastle's West End when he struck at a council bin wagon depot in Benwell, in March, a haulage company last month and a car dealership in Scotswood Road less than two weeks later.

Detective Inspector Steve Fear, leading the inquiry, said: "I can confirm we are now linking these fires this year with this same individual. If he is caught and convicted, he will be looking at a substantial prison sentence.

"Whoever does this has no regard for human life. At one of the yards, a full petrol tanker was close to going up in flames. This is an extremely worrying crime which has affected people's livelihoods, but more seriously, there is the potential for a fatality here."

The culprit has a distinct pattern of attacks - breaking into secure compounds, smashing cab windows and pouring accelerant inside before fleeing the blaze.

The first attack was in June last year, when 23 bin wagons were destroyed at a Newcastle council depot in the Heaton area of the city causing £2m of damage.

In February, police and fire brigade services announced they were hunting a serial arsonist and had 40 detectives plus two psychological profilers on the case.

They believe the man is probably working alone and are investigating any possible past links to the haulage industry.

* Meanwhile, council officials have confirmed that a £1m housing development, built only eight years ago, is to be demolished following repeated attacks by arsonists as young as five.

The 20-home Agecroft Gardens development in the Whinney Banks area of Middlesbrough was built in 1994 with charity and Government cash. Now every single one has been left a dangerous empty shell,.

A further £17m of public money is to be pumped into the area to rebuild the houses, while Middlesbrough council has vowed to evict parents if their children are found to be responsible for the fires