THE spate of deliberately-set grassfires has to stop before a Gwent community suffers a tragedy.

The recent good weather has seen idiot arsonists setting fires on grasslands and hillsides across Gwent and South Wales as a whole.

The most recent was in Wattsville and burned through until the early hours of yesterday morning, destroying more than 700 acres of countryside.

Nearby residents were put on a 90-minute evacuation alert, though thankfully they were able to remain in their homes.

That this craze has not yet led to a fatality is down to nothing more than luck and wind direction.

The people setting these fires are not thinking of the consequences.

Firefighters are on their knees dealing with these blazes night after night.

Wildlife is being destroyed.

People are in fear of the flames spreading to their homes.

It cannot go on.

We have seen some criticism of the media’s coverage of these fires. Some are suggesting we should not be reporting events because, in doing so, we are encouraging more arsons.

That is nonsense. We cannot avoid reporting something that is happening for all to see.

And we cannot be more critical of those responsible.

They are thoughtless idiots who will end up being responsible for lost lives if they do not stop.