POLICE are hunting for “idiotic” arsonists who struck five times in Chelmsford and damaged a number of cars.

Annie Davidson

POLICE are hunting for “idiotic” arsonists who struck five times in Chelmsford and damaged a number of cars.

The fire starting began at 1am on Sunday in Wicklow Avenue off Melbourne Road in the town when a Citroen Saxo was set alight.

Fire crews from Chelmsford went to the scene and spent 20 minutes putting the flames out.

Shortly before 2am, a green Ford Orion was set on fire in Roselawn Fields in Broomfield and was put out within 15 minutes by a second crew from Chelmsford.

Firefighters were sent out at 3.30am to Archers Way where a red Vauxhall Corsa was also targeted, with the flames spreading to a nearby Ford Fiesta and Citroen Saxo.

One crew from Great Baddow stayed at the scene for almost an hour putting the blaze out.

At 3.34am emergency services were alerted to a further car fire in Tyrells Avenue where a Vauxhall Astra had been set alight. The fire took about 20 minutes to put out.

The final arson attack was on a garage in St Michael's Walk off Barnard Road in Galleywood at 4.30am.

Two crews from Chelmsford were sent to the scene and spent almost an hour putting the fire out.

Police said yesterday that the fires were being treated as arson and appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious to get in contact.

They have carried out house-to-house enquiries and forensic examinations at the scene to try and establish the cause of the fires.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “This is not only very upsetting for the owners but also very dangerous and we need to find those responsible for this idiotic behaviour.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Pc Chris Arkley at Chelmsford police station on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.