Express & Star

Two cars and a van were set ablaze in suspected arson attacks in Stafford today.

People living near the scene of the incidents have told of their shock at being woken by the flames and explosions in the middle of the night.

A young father whose car was written off in the blaze has told how the incident has ruined his bank holiday weekend – and left him with no way of getting to and from work.

Firefighters were called to reports of a burning vehicle on Sidney Avenue, Stafford, at around 3am.

When they arrived on the scene, the car, a Citroen Saxo, had also set fire to two other vehicles: a Peugeot 306 on one side and a large flatbed van on the other.

Firefighters from Stafford station were tackling the blaze for an hour and a half before they considered it safe to leave the scene.

The Citroen was destroyed while the other two vehicles are thought to be insurance write-offs.

Sidney Avenue residents today told how they were woken in the middle of the night by the drama.

One said: “I live right around the corner but I could hear it from there.

“There was a massive bang and when I came to see what was going on I saw the fire engine and all the police. The car in the middle was completely wrecked – it had just disintegrated.”

Another man said: “It’s really bad for stuff like this round here – it’s terrible.”

Wayne Dix was the owner of the Peugeot, which was yards from his home when it caught fire.

Mr Dix was in bed when he heard the Citroen Saxo burning. The forklift driver called the fire brigade but they were too late to save his own car.

The 23-year-old said: “I got woke up at about three this morning. I was in bed and I heard like a series of explosions.

“The tyres were going on the Saxo and then the petrol tank went, which spread the fire to my car.

“I’m a bit annoyed, obviously – that’s two cars in two years. And I’m a bit stuck now.

“I’m just standing in the house doing nothing and I don’t know how I’m going to get into work.”

Mr Dix added that he had also had a car stolen from the same spot less than two years ago.

He said: “I’ll have to fork out more money for a new car; the insurance will hopefully pay up eventually but then that’ll put my premium up and I’ve got two kids to think about.

“That’s two cars in two years.”

A man was arrested at the time of the incident and is currently being questioned by police.