Police confirmed they are investigating fires at four churches in east London.

The fires all happened on or around Wednesday (June 19) and are being treated as suspicious by police.

Detectives said they are at an early stage in the investigation and are appealing for witnesses and information.

According to Met Police, a fire had taken place at St John's Church in Broadway, Stratford sometime between 7pm on Tuesday (June 18) and 8am the following morning.

There was damage to the front door of the church and the fire had been extinguished by the time police were called at 10am on Wednesday.

Read more: Three churches in east London set on fire, church leaders said

There was another fire at Cann Hall Road Baptist Church in Leytonstone. Police received a call at 10.26am on Wednesday but by the time officers arrived, the informant had put the fire out. Graffiti was also found scratched onto the church door.

There were two other reports of fires that night, and police and firefighters attended.

At 9.11pm, police were called to a fire outside a church in Ramsay Road. Like Cann Hall Road Baptist Church, graffiti was found on the door.

According to John Edney, church secretary of Cann Hall Road Baptist Church in Leytonstone, the church was on fire twice. The church's notice board is now "completely destroyed" and its main doors are "badly scarred with burn marks", he said.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

(Cann Hall Road Baptist Church in Leytonstone)

Finally, at 12.14am on Thursday (June 20), police were called to a fire outside St Matthew's Church in Dyson Road, West Ham. Again, graffiti was found on the door.

Archdeacon of West Ham, Elwin Cockett, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the vandalism and arson attacks. At the time, on Thursday (June 20), he was aware of three churches that were affected - St John's church in Stratford, St Matthew's in West Ham and Cann Hall Road Baptist Church in Leytonstone.

He said: "We are offering prayers and giving practical support to the leaders at those churches: St John’s, Stratford, St Matthew’s, West Ham, and Cann Hall Road Baptist Church in Leytonstone.

“We are asking people in our parishes to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police.”

The incidents are being investigated by the police's North East area Community Support Unit. The force said detectives are keeping an open mind as to the motive.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD2459/19JUN or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.