Arsonists on third rampage

Firebugs struck on a Rugeley estate today setting four cars and a trailer alight in the space of 20 minutes. It is the third week in a row that arsonists have hit the estate.

The fires were started so quickly, firefighters from Cannock and Rugeley had to call for support from nearby Abotts Bromley to help.

It is the third arson attack on vehicles on the Springfield Estate.

The first fires today were started on the driveway of a house in Winstanley Road at 3.55am where two cars were set on fire. Around 10 minutes later the arsonists struck in John Ball Close where they gutted a car and a trailer full of rubbish.Ten minutes later, the vandals attacked a vehicle in Holyoake Place.

Peter Ridgeway, of John Ball Close, had his Mitsubishi Gallant worth £2,000, destroyed last night. The 56-year-old used a garden hose to fight the fire.

Mr Ridgeway said: "If they carry on doing this someone is going to be killed.

"The police definitely need to do something, they need to be patrolling the estate in the early hours."

A fire service spokesman said: "The calls came in so quickly we thought they weren't going to stop.

"All the fires were on driveways or in people's gardens close to the houses and they were all deliberately started."