8 August 2012 Last updated at 11:25 ET

Glenavy Protestant Hall arson is third attack in a year

The Orange Order said it was the third time Glenavy Protestant Hall has been targeted this year

Police are investigating an arson attack on an Orange Hall in Glenavy, County Antrim.

Wheeled bins were pushed up against the front gates of Glenavy Protestant Hall and set alight during the early hours of Wednesday.

The attack caused scorch damage only but the Orange Order said it was the third time the building has been targeted this year.

Paint bombs were thrown at the hall in separate attacks in February and July.

An Orange Order spokesman said: "This latest deliberate attack appears to be part of an ongoing campaign - which is becoming more serious and sinister in its nature - against the Orange culture and heritage in south Antrim.

"As an institution, we would urge the police to devote more resources towards the prevention and detection of such attacks on the Protestant community in Glenavy."

A police spokeswoman said they were appealing to anyone who witnessed the attack or who noticed any unusual activity in the area to contact officers.