FIRE service officials say a blaze in a car port and bin store was probably arson.

The fire was discovered yesterday at about 3.20am in Windmill Court, Mile End, Colchester, and was the second blaze at the site in as many years.

It destroyed the car port and a car parked only feet from houses and an electricity sub-station.

Some residents moved their cars away before the fire took hold, but not everyone was so lucky.

Jenni Doherty’s Fiat – used to take her mother to hospital appointments – was destroyed.

Ms Doherty, 63, said: “I woke up and saw flashing lights, but didn’t think anything of it.

“Then I heard someone outside talking about getting people out.

“I went outside and saw the fire engines and all the smoke and just thought, ‘here we go again’.

“The only reason my car wasn’t damaged last time is because it was in the garage being repaired.

“The worst thing about it all is my mum has just been diagnosed with cancer and I need my car to get her up to the hospital. I’m desperately trying to sort out the insurance money.”

Two fire crews were called and extinguished the blaze by 4am.

Richard Wroot, of Turner Road, Colchester, said this was the fourth incident he had witnessed while living there.

He said: “No one knows who is doing it. It is very irritating and it keeps happening.

“It must be the third or fourth time it has happened in recent years.

“It just seems very odd and we are very concerned.”

Residents were moved out in March 2009 when 12 cars were set alight, causing a series of explosions.

The open-fronted car port was destroyed in that fire, but later rebuilt.

In August 2004, eight vehicles were gutted during a fire at the same car port.

The fire took fire crews from Colchester, Manningtree, Wivenhoe and Nayland three hours to put out. Essex Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation into the cause of the latest fire.

A police spokesman confirmed it was being treated as suspicious and said forensic officers had been to the site.