Car fires worry residents

IPSWICH: Fears have been raised by residents today after a series of suspicious vehicle fires in Ipswich and Melton.

The blazes were tackled by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service in the early hours of yesterday morning.

One eye-witness described hearing a “popping sound” as a car exploded in St David's Road, Ipswich shortly before 3am yesterday.

Jo Bown, who lives in St David's Road, said she was woken by a series of car alarms.

“I heard a loud pop all of a sudden,” she said. “And then I noticed the light coming through my curtains.

“When I got up I was shocked to see the fire, the flames were huge. I rang the fire brigade, it was really roaring then.”

The 60-year-old said the car was set alight on the corner with King Edward Road near to the home of an elderly neighbour.

Two fire crews from Princes Street fire station were called to tackle the blaze, extinguishing the flames within about half-an-hour.

Earlier in the evening two other vehicle fires, which at this stage have not been linked to each other or the Ipswich blaze, broke out in Melton.

A car parked in Melton Road was discovered alight at about 12.20am and minutes later at 12.30am another fire was reported at Melton railway station where a pushbike was found alight.

The owner of the car James Farnhill said he believed the Melton fires were linked.

He said: “It is too much of a coincidence two fires just half-a-mile apart and within ten minutes of each other. I was told it could have been an electrical fault, but I hadn't driven the car for nine hours so it was cold and there was even frost on it this morning.”

Both car fires are being treated as suspicious and are being investigated. A police spokesman said the fire in St David's Road is being linked to a crime in Stowupland. It is believed the red VW Polo was stolen and then dumped and set alight.

Anyone with any information relating to the incidents should contact police officers on 01473 613500.