Police are appealing for information after a series of small fires were set in Newton Aycliffe.
The most serious of the fires – which happened on Thursday April 13 – was a bin which was set alight at the rear of McGuiness Opticians and Argos on Greenwell Road.
The bin was against a wall and could easily have spread to the main building.
Police are asking people with any information to contact PC 2569 Ashleigh Canvin at Aycliffe police station by calling 101.