POLICE patrols are being stepped up near a travellers’ site in Gravesend after a spate of arson attacks.

Firefighters were called to the Dering Way area four times overnight and four times the night before after flytipped rubbish was set on fire.

And a Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman says the crews have been called to at least 16 rubbish fires in the vicinity since February 21.

Each time they are called it takes around 30 minutes to deal with the flaming rubbish.