A 61-year-old man has been charged with damaging a property by fire after trying to set a church alight in the Lismore CBD.
Police allege the Loftville man set a bin alight in Eggins Lane, Lismore, around 10.15pm last night.
Once the flames had gone down he has returned and set the bin on fire again.
He has then moved the bin, which was still on fire, to the rear doors of the Church of the Hub building, causing the doors to catch on fire.
The NSW Fire Brigade arrived and extinguished the fire.
Police attended soon after and arrested the 61-year-old.
Back at the police station, the man smeared blood over a call.
He was charged with Damage Property By Fire and Destroy Property. He will appear in Lismore Local Court next month.