CCTV images are being studied by police after three cars were destroyed in a suspected arson attack in Newton Abbot.

Thousands of pounds damage was caused in the blaze at Bradley Lane which was spotted by nearby residents in the middle of the night.

Crews from the town wore breathing gear to subdue the flames with two high-pressure hosereel jets.

The alarm was raised just before 2.30am on Wednesday.

Daybreak revealed the full extent of the suspected arsonist’s handiwork with an abandoned VW Beetle in the middle to the trio identified as the source of the blaze.

A fire spokesman said afterwards: ‘We are treating the incident as suspicious with the fire starting at the VW and spreading to the vehicles flanking it.’

He added: ‘We were able to stop the fire spreading along a line of parked cars next to them. There are some CCTV cameras near the scene.’

Police confirmed the matter was being investigated to see if there had been any criminal intent.

Anyone with information about the blaze should contact police on 101, quoting log 48 of February 28.