TWO cars were destroyed by separate fires within minutes.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to Sheering Walk, off Monkwick Avenue, in Colchester, just before 11.20pm last night after reports a car was on fire.

They managed to extinguish the blaze within half an hour.

But just two minutes after the first fire was registered with the officers, another car was reported to be ablaze approximately half a mile away in Adelaide Drive.

By the time officers arrived, the fire was out.

The fire service have passed details of both incidents to Essex Police.