POLICE are appealing for witnesses following two reports of arson.

At 8.45pm on Monday, June 19, rubbish bin bags were set on fire outside St Mary’s Church in Church Lane.

Then between 9.15 and 9.30 on the same night offenders entered The Old Church on Hospital Street and set the building alight.

The fires are believed to be linked and four people were seen running away from the scene.

DC Dave Newton, of Crewe local policing unit, said: “We are currently following up a number of lines of enquiry but I want to urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious behaviour around the time the fire was started to contact the police.

“We will also be carrying out patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.”

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident 1087 of June 19.

Information can be passed anonymously on 0800 555 111.