Flames rose above the rooftops last night after a huge pile of rubbish was torched by arsonists.

The sky above the Coldharbour flats in Kingsmead Road glowed red as crews tackled the fire, which also destroyed some cypress trees.

They raced to the scene at about 8.30pm after several calls from members of the public.

The blaze, which had taken hold in the discarded trash, was quickly put out.