Suspected Palmerston arsonist caught on CCTV

Police say they have a suspect for a series of arsons in Palmerston North.

They released today images from CCTV footage showing the man starting one of the seven blazes around the city in the past week.

The man is seen lighting a fire at the Esplanade Cafe early on Wednesday morning.

He is described as having short cropped hair and wearing a jacket with reflective strips on the shoulders. He was also carrying a bag on his back.

Police said it was possible the arsonist used a bike or walked to get to the sites of the fires, though a car could not be ruled out.

They appealed to anyone recognising the man or seeing someone fitting his description to come forward.

Four fires were lit on Sunday between 7.50pm and 11.25pm in an area spanning 3km.

There were fires in a skip at Skoglund Park, a caretaker's shed at Terrace End School, a construction site by the Leisure Plex on Railway Rd and a tractor shed at Freyberg School.

The tractor shed contained a van used to transport children with disabilities.

Three fires were lit before 3.20am on Thursday at a cafe on the Esplanade, a takeaway and dairy on Cook St and the Farmers construction site on the corner of Church Street and Ashley Street.

The sites were less than 2km apart.

An eighth fire early Monday morning at Taonui Road is not now thought to be linked.

- NZPA