MORE than 20 holidaymakers are returning to Stansted Airport to find their cars burnt out after fire tore through a long-stay carpark.

The fire quickly spread from vehicle to vehicle, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage.

High winds fanned the flames before the first firefighters on the scene could stifle the blaze.

The alarm was raised just before 2.30am this morning following a report of one car being alight in the Zone C park.

But an airport fire crew arrived to find the flames had quickly advanced and enveloped a whole row of parked vehicles.

Fire engines from Dunmow and Thaxted arrived shortly afterwards to join the effort.

A total of 25 firefighters and crew from Stansted’s own fire service fought for more than an hour to bring the flames under control.

By the time the fire had been fully extinguished, it had ravaged 24 vehicles.

A joint police and fire service investigation is being carried out to establish the cause of a blaze.

It is understood that an electrical fault may have been to blame.

An Essex Fire Service spokesperson said: “Initially the incident was reported as a vehicle alight and a single appliance was sent to the scene.

“But on arrival the officer in charge requested three additional crews when firefighters reported the incident involved multiple cars.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used four hose reels and one main jet to tackle the incident.”