Investigations are being carried out after an arson attack ignited a row of derelict cars and damaged a block of flats.

Burnt out - the wrecked vehicles at Langham Drive, Clacton. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (19217-5)

And Clacton firefighters have now urged authorities to remove abandoned cars more quickly to stop them being set alight.

Four abandoned cars were completely detroyed at the blaze in Langham Drive, Clacton, and heat from the fire damaged a nearby block of flats.

Firefighters were called out at just before 4am on Saturday morning after a resident in a ground floor flat discovered the fire.

Two fire engines were called and it took 20 minutes to put the fire out.

The blaze was so intense that a foot-square piece of concrete was blown out from the corner of the flats.

The four abandoned cars were parked in a communal car park in the residential area and one other car, a blue Peugeot, was warped from the heat.

A spokesman from Clacton Fire Service said the fire had started in two different places and so was being treated as deliberate.

Police were today investigating after tyres were slashed on more than 60 vehicles after vandals went on a wrecking spree in Dovercourt.

A trail of flat tyres was left around the Kingsway area of the town when 64 vehicles were damaged during Saturday night. And police believe there could be another 20 attacks still to be reported.

Parked cars, vans and motorcycles in Kingsway, Marine Parade, Waddesdon Road, Hill Road and Nelson Road were damaged.

Anyone with information should contact 01255 241312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

A 48-year-old Harwich man has been charged on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle.

He was released on conditional police bail and is due to appear before Colchester magistrates on Thursday.

Published Monday January 14, 2002