Arsonists attack two cars on nearby Melton streets

Firefighters from the town station dealt with the incidents in Eastfield Avenue and Balmoral Road just two weeks after they battled a blaze in a disused factory in Stanley Street which investigators said was also started deliberately.

A fire crew from another part of the county had to be deployed to Melton to cover the town while crews were tied up with the two arson attacks.

These latest incidents follow a series of arson attacks on cars in Melton over the last two years, several involving multiple cars being set alight on different streets around the same time.

The first car fire on Saturday involved an Audi, which was destroyed in Eastfield Avenue at 1.42am - a white Mini and a black VW Golf were also damaged by the fire.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said there was also ‘a small amount of fire damage to a domestic property’.

Nine minutes later, Melton firefighters were called out to Balmoral Road after reports of another car being ablaze.

The fire service said this one involved a Toyota Yaris, which had its engine compartment destroyed by the fire, and that breathing apparatus and a hosereel jet were used to extinguish the flames.

James Marman, who was incident commander for the second car fire, told the Melton Times: “On arrival it was clear that we had a significant fire involving a Toyota Yaris.

“The owner had had this car from new and it was 17-years-old.

“Both calls were only 10 minutes apart and whilst these incidents were happening a crew had to come over to Melton to cover.”

More to follow.