Seven vehicles hit by Dudley arson attacks
Five parked cars and two vans were set alight when an arsonist struck seven times overnight, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The fires took place in Wall Heath between midnight and 3am today. A Volkswagen Golf, a Ford Transit van and a Vauxhall Corsa were set alight while parked in Beachcroft Road.
A BMW on grassland off Wolverhampton Road was also targeted along with a Vauxhall Nova, a Ford Transit van and an Audi A1 in nearby Holbeache Croft.
Valerie Hingley, aged 74, of Beachcroft Road, was sleeping in her bungalow front room just five feet from her Corsa when it was set alight at 1.45am.
Fortunately, the vehicle was not closer to her home, and only wall plants were burned by the blaze before firefighters arrived.
She said: "I feel very lucky – if the car had been parked closer to the house I could have been in trouble, it's frightening really.
"I had just filled it up with petrol too, so it is fortunate the fire crews got here quickly to put it out or it could have gone with a bang."
Firefighters took to Twitter to post images of the fires:
Mrs Hingley, who lives with her disabled husband Anthony, also 74, added: "The first thing I knew about it was the flash of light from outside. I looked out and the car was alight.
"It has left me feeling stunned – the situation could have been much worse."
Mark Brown,aged 52, woke up at 1.30am to the sound of fire crews outside his home. He said he looked outside to see his Volkswagen Golf alight on his driveway.
He said: "I spoke to the fire crews and they told me vehicles had been targeted. I can't think of any particular reason for someone to do this."
Councillor Dave Tyler said: "I would like to thank the police and fire service for their quick response to dealing with the matter."
A 36-year-old man was arrested near to Holbeache Croft on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
DS Matt Morgan, from Dudley CID, said: "Officers were quickly on the scene and were able to arrest a suspect close to where many of the fires had taken hold.
"The man is currently in police custody and will be questioned over the arsons later today."
Witnesses should call 101.
