The latest attack, in which a wheelie bin was pushed against an oil tank and set alight, happened at Woodland Walk at around 4 a.m. on Friday.

The man in the house escaped injury and police patrolling the area were on the scene within minutes.

Later that night, three youths were arrested in connection with an arson incident in the Gorteen Crescent area of Limavady. They were released pending a report.

Both attacks come hours after police joined local councillors in an appeal for information to catch those behind the fire attacks.

Residents in the area too frightened to be identified claim the attacks appear to be sectarian as the latest victims have all been Catholics.

Police, however, say they have no evidence to support these claims and said of the latest incident: "Police received a report of an attempt to set fire to a wheelie bin at Woodland Walk early on Friday. There were no reports of any damage."

Residents, however, have told the 'Journal' they are scared their homes "will be next."

One woman said: "I've lived here for more than 30 years and we never had any bother until these fires. I'm afraid I'll be next - you just don't know.

"I think the police are doing their best and I know they can't sit outside your gate 24 hours day. But everybody here is really scared. Someone is going to lose their life."

Another woman with young children said that, if she could afford to move out of the area, she would.

Earlier this year, ten homes in Woodland Walk were damaged after an oil tank was set on fire. As a result, two families were left homeless.

Since the start of 2007, there have been 106 fires in the town and Sinn Fein Mayor Brenda Chivers fears Limavady is getting a reputation as the "arson capital of the North."