POLICE are today hunting a fire raiser who set alight two vehicles in the same area of Felixstowe, where there have been nearly a dozen arson attacks.As one blaze was being dealt with on the Coronation Estate, another was started just yards away – fuelling residents' fears that they are in for more anxious nights worrying about their property and cars.

POLICE are today hunting a fire raiser who set alight two vehicles in the same area of Felixstowe, where there have been nearly a dozen arson attacks.

As one blaze was being dealt with on the Coronation Estate, another was started just yards away – fuelling residents' fears that they are in for more anxious nights worrying about their property and cars.

Last year there were two spates of arson attacks, and another series of incidents in the previous 12 months. Police are not linking the latest fires with those yet – but cannot rule out a connection.

They are appealing for witnesses who may have seen or heard suspicious activity outside their homes on Friday night to come forward as they may have vital information which could track down the arsonist.

One Coronation Drive resident said today: "It is not nice and very worrying. No-one has been hurt thankfully, but you should be able to leave your car or trailer outside and know no-one is going to interfere with it.

"I just hope everyone keeps their ears and eyes open and spots who is doing this."

The first fire happened in Coronation Drive at about 11.20pm when a Ford Transit van was set on fire.

Fortunately, this was spotted by a resident who alerted the vehicle's owner, who doused the flames with water. Minor damage was caused to the van's front seat.

While police were attending this incident, a report was received of a Volvo 340 on fire in Stour Avenue. The car was destroyed in the blaze, thought to have started around 11.30pm.

"Both these incidents are being treated as arson and we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area at the time," said a police spokeswoman.

People should call Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.

In December, over two nights, gas pipes were set alight at Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park in Walton Avenue, damaging four caravans, businessman Stephen Flynn lost £10,000 of bikes stored in a container in the garden of his home in Coronation Drive after the metal box was torched, and a skip, storage shed and shower cubicle was damaged at the Dooley pub in Ferry Lane.

A few months earlier, three fires were set within half an hour when two cars were set alight in Margaret Street, a storage building at the Co-op in Wadgate Road, and a camper van in the same street.