FLAMES shot 30ft into the air when vandals torched a car belonging to the former mayor of Woodbridge in the town centre at night.The car, a white Ford Fiesta, was destroyed during the arson attack and a neighbour's wall was scorched in the incident.

FLAMES shot 30ft into the air when vandals torched a car belonging to the former mayor of Woodbridge in the town centre at night.

The car, a white Ford Fiesta, was destroyed during the arson attack and a neighbour's wall was scorched in the incident.

Mac Miles said he feared the fire would start off a series of explosions along Queen's Head Lane where other cars were parked and it was fortunate that houses were not damaged.

Mr Miles said he was very upset that vandals could destroy property and ruin Woodbridge. ''I had a call from a neighbour at 3.50am saying the car was on fire. She called the fire brigade and the police, the fire brigade were here in about seven minutes and the police soon afterwards.

''But the flames were 30ft high. There was another car behind and the front of that was starting to go - I thought we could have a series of explosions up the road.

''It was such a sight, and here we are in the middle of Woodbridge. I feel that it is another example of how vandals are beginning to destroy towns like Woodbridge. My personal feeling is that we need more bobbies on the beat, but we have lost five officers that went somewhere else,'' said Mr Miles.

He has lived in Queen's Head Lane, a one-way street between Burkitt Road and Seckford Street, with his wife Liz for 15 years and he said the vandalism had become more of a problem. The couple has stopped putting flower pots on the wall and recently the Ford Fiesta was moved by vandals.

The arson occurred on Saturday morning and Mr Miles said: ''It seems to have become a weekend sport. We need more and better policing and although we do not know the ages of the people who did this, we need better education from parents.''

A police spokeswoman said yesterday the fire was being treated as arson and the blaze spread to a black BMW car. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc David Burrell on 01473 613500.

Ben Cook, Woodbridge Police sector commander, is due to meet the town council to discuss vandalism in the town and to explain the loss of five officers.

In recent weeks outbreaks of vandalism have included broken windows in houses and shops, damaged cars, fighting outside a pub, and brick pillars pushed over outside houses.

Neil Montgomery, Woodbridge mayor, is hoping the town will follow a pioneering scheme in Ipswich and have a new ''hit team'' of officers, special constables, community support officers and council staff to crack down on louts.