A fire in the early hours of yesterday morning at the East Devon District Council-owned Exmouth Pavilion is still being investigated today. The council has released new photos showing the damage done to the venue by the alleged arson attack.

The fire is believed to have started in an external storage bin at just after 2am.

There was 10 per cent smoke and fire damage to the basement of the property and 20 per cent smoke and fire damage to the first floor.

The Pavilions café, which re-opened last weekend, was not affected and remains open for business. Exmouth Pavilions is run by LED Community Leisure on behalf of the council.

A spokesman for the council said: "Our officers are working with the emergency services and LED Community Leisure to assess the damage and to make the building safe and secure."

There have been five fires over the last fortnight and on each occasion the bins of commercial premises have been targeted.

The most recent fire occurred at around 2.20am on, Monday, July 13, at Exmouth Pavilion on the Esplanade. Police believe an accelerant was used.

And at around 3am on Saturday, July 11, the bins at Budleigh Salterton Football Club were also targeted.

On Wednesday, July 7, several thousand pounds worth of damage was caused to the Bumble and Bee Café in the Manor Gardens, Exmouth, after a fire spread to the building.

The fires have all occurred between midnight and 5am.

Officers will continue to conduct door-to-door enquiries in the affected areas and are urging businesses to be vigilant.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have any information which could assist their enquiries, including those with potentially relevant CCTV footage.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Tim Hegarty from Exmouth CID, said: "So far, these fires have caused damage to people's business premises, at times causing a lot of financial damage, anguish and inconvenience.

"Times are hard enough for businesses who are getting ready for what should be the tourist season – we want to find the person, or people, responsible, before a tragedy happens and lives are threatened in addition to people's livelihoods.

"We would like to hear from people who have witnessed any suspicious activity, or have concerns about any person they may know who has, for example, come home smelling of fire, or has developed a fascination with fire or the emergency services."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting log number 99, 13/7/20.