Colchester: Arsonists torch eight cars (From Gazette)

Colchester: Arsonists torch eight cars

8:13am Tuesday 29th January 2008 in

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Police are hunting firebugs who torched eight cars in just two hours on a Colchester estate.

Arsonists went on the rampage in Greenstead in the early hours of this morning, striking three times within a quarter of a mile radius.

Emergency services were flooded with calls as the vehicles burst into flame.

One witness described a car as "blazing madly".

Firefighters were called to a Ford Mondeo and Focus on fire in Buckingham Drive at 1am.

Just over an hour later a Renault Meganne and Vauxhall Vectra were torched in nearby Erica Walk.

And four cars - two Fiat Puntos, a Vauxhall Corsa and Chevrolet - went up in flames in Blackthorn Avenue.

Firefighters from Colchester's White Watch using breathing apparatus tackled the series of fires.

Police confirmed the blazes had been started deliberately and were linked. They immediately launched a hunt for the firebugs, using sniffer dogs in a bid to track them down.

The police road unit was also brought in to help in the search.

"We are looking for an arsonist who has set them alight," said a spokesman.

Detectives were carrying out probe on the estate this morning. Fire investigators are looking into how the attacks were started.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 041206 762212.