Baker Paul Coleman today vowed to hunt down arsonists who wrecked his village store.

Mr Coleman, 37, condemned the "idiots" who torched wheelie-bins behind his Mr Crusty bakery in Berinsfield and set the building alight.

It was one of a series of arson attacks in the county over the weekend.

Five cars were set on fire at Bicester. Police and fire officers are also investigating a suspicious fire in a block of flats in the town, from which five people had a lucky escape.

Fire officer Nigel Robinson warned the arsonists today that their "mindless, stupid" behaviour was putting lives at risk.

The Berinsfield bakery fire, which started at 4am yesterday, spread to the rear of the bakery in Fane Drive, wrecking toilets, breaking windows and destroying extractor fans.

The blaze smoke-logged kitchens at the bakery, putting them out of action for days. Damage is estimated at more than £10,000.

Mr Coleman said: "I am very angry about this. We have put a lot of hard work into this place and now these mindless idiots just want to destroy it.

"It hasn't done the village any favours either as people won't have a bakery. It is going to put us out of action for a few days.

"I will be finding out who did this."

The arsonists were also blamed for torching a car, parked just 50 metres from the bakery, in Chiltern Close.

Fire crews from Wallingford and Abingdon were called to the village after the alarm was raised by a member of the public.

No-one was injured in either incident, but officers said that without prompt action, the fires would have been far more serious, and the lives of people living in flats above the shop could have been at risk.

Thames Valley Police are investigating both incidents.

Mr Coleman praised villagers who rallied round to help repair the bakery after the attack.

He said: "The local residents have been very good. People saw the damage and were on the scene mopping up water, before I even arrived. It was very nice of them and shows there are some very decent people about."

Sub officer Pat Rosum, of Oxfordshire Fire Service, said: "There are flats above the shops and a fire could have affected them and put lives at risk.

"Luckily the alarm was raised and we managed to arrive in time to prevent it spreading."