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Hundreds of pallets at a bonfire site in East Belfast have been burned.

The incident, at the Avoniel site, appears to have happened in the early hours of the morning.

In a post on their Facebook page, organisers of the bonfire say they are “devastated”.

On Monday morning the charred remains of the blaze were still smouldering.

DUP councillor George Dorrian described the suspected arson attack as the “height of irresponsibility”.

The DUP rep added: “It’s total madness that someone has come in, likely in the middle of the night, and set fire to all these pallets. There could have been serious consequences for businesses nearby. It’s just the height of irresponsibility for someone to have done this.”

In their Facebook post, organisers said they are “asking if any of the residents or local business would be able to donate a few pounds towards trying to get the kids a bonfire back on track” and if anyone has any spare pallets.

The bonfire is one of those listed as being part of a new umbrella group, the East Belfast Cultural Collective, that was launched last week. The site's use for a bonfire had been causing some concern over recent weeks.

The Fire Service said later on Monday that they believe the fire was "deliberate".

The police said they are appealing for information following a fire in the Connswater Link area in the early hours of Monday morning.

Inspector Pollock said: “The incident was reported to us in the early hours of this morning, just before 12.30am. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service extinguished the fire, in which a collection of pallets had been set alight and destroyed. Thankfully, there were no reports of nearby properties damaged or anyone injured.

“I would appeal to anyone with information, or who saw any suspicious activity in the area early this morning, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 23 of 13/05/19.”

On Monday afternoon, the EBCC described the incident as “a reckless and malicious act which not only targeted the the bonfire, but the whole community who are passionate about the celebration of unionist culture".

A spokesperson added: “The local bonfire group, supported by EBCC and the wider community, has resolved to rebuild the bonfire and we collectively support them in this endeavour.”

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