A "worrying" large bonfire was lit late at night in the garden area outside Bridport Town Council's offices at Mountfield.

Reporting the incident on social media this morning. (Monday), Bridport Town Council said the incident was caught on CCTV with a group of about 10 people lighting the bonfire in the raised garden beds next to the office building, between about 11.45m on Friday, July 2 and 12.45am on Saturday, July 3.

The statement added: "Almost unbelievably, the group smashed up several wooden bench seats to feed the fire.

"Our CCTV shows that they must've realised that it was getting out of hand because the fire appears to have been damped down quite quickly just before they left.

"A tree caught fire but thankfully the fire was extinguished before it could spread to the Bridport Community Shed area next door.

"We have reported the incident to the Police, not least because of the danger it posed to people (including those who set the fire) and property, and we are waiting for them to collect our CCTV footage."

Anyone with information on the incident can contact town clerk Will Austin on 01308 456722 or email [email protected], or call Dorset Police on 101, quoting crime reference 55230107110.

The council added: "All contact will be treated in strictest confidence, and we are open to a discussion about how to avoid this becoming a criminal matter - if we can get reassurance that the perpetrators understand the gravity of their actions."