DETECTIVES are hunting arsonists after scrap cars were set alight in a breakers yard.

Fire service chiefs said the vehicles were being stored in Autobreak, in Haven Road, Colchester, when a late night fire was set.

Two fire crews from Colchester were sent to the scene at 11.45pm on Thursday.

Firefighters tackled the blaze for about one hour before it was extinguished.

An Autobreak spokesman denied the fire service’s claims 15 cars were involved in the blaze and said the number is closer to five.

He added it did not stop the business opening as usual on Friday.

Essex Police confirmed the incident is being treated as arson while Environment Agency regulating officers are planning a visit to the site to make sure all elements of the breakers’ permit are being met.

An Essex Police spokesman said officers were called to scene shortly before midnight.

He added: “A number of scrap vehicles had been set alight and destroyed.

“The incident is being treated as arson.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said the agency had not been notified of the fire despite operators being asked to report any incidents as soon as possible.

She added: “A regulating officer will be visiting the site.”

The fire is the second at the yard in the past eight months and councillors are now calling for increased security on the site.

Lee Scordis, Colchester councillor for Old Heath and the Hythe, said: “I think it’s fair to say there comes a time when the Environment Agency will need to keep on top of things, perhaps along with the council’s own zone wardens.

“I would urge anyone who knows anything about what has happened here to contact the police.”

Anyone with any information on the fire should contact Essex Police on 101 quoting incident 1123 of 02/03 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A Colchester Council spokesman said the authority had not been notified of the fire.