Arsonists torch cars in attack spree

Simon Tomlinson

A DEJECTED librarian had spent �1,000 on his car shortly before it was destroyed in one of three suspected arson attacks in a Suffolk market town.

Police are linking a spate of incidents in which three cars and four wheelie bins were torched in Hadleigh the early hours of yesterday morning.

Firefighters were initially called to tackle two burning cars in Charles Court, off Meadows Way, at around 00.30am.

A 56-year-old librarian, who owned one of the cars, a Vauxhall Zafira, thought he heard fireworks but went outside to find his car ablaze.

The other car, a Ford Escort which was up for sale, was also burnt out.

The librarian said: “I have just spent �1,000 on a full service because I expected to keep the car for a few more years.

“It was lucky I didn't leave anything irreplaceable in there.”

His neighbour, Yvonne Eagle, a member of Hadleigh Community First Responders, feared her flat was on fire when she returned from an emergency call-out.

The 52-year-old said: “When firefighters said it was a car I cried out of relief because it wasn't my home.

“It was really frightening. I didn't get to sleep until about 4am because I was worried they (arsonists) would come back.”

One crew from the town and another from Ipswich spent around 20 minutes bringing the fires under control.

Shortly afterwards another car was allegedly set on fire around the corner in Charter Close at 00.51am. One crew battled for half an hour to put it out.

While that was ongoing, four wheelie bins went up in flames in High Street at around 01.15am.

Suffolk police and the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are treating the incidents as suspicious.

The incidents follow a previous attack in July when a pensioner in Meadows Way woke to find his shed on fire with flames threatening the house.

Anyone with information on the latest incidents should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.