ARSONISTS torched a car near Bickington which destroyed half-an-acre of gorse.

Three fire crews – from Newton Abbot, Ashburton and Bovey Tracey – tackled the blaze in a field near Ramshorn Down this afternoon.

Some small trees were also affected by the fire which was reported just before 3pm.

Beaters were used for more than an hour to extinguish the blaze which a fire spokesman confirmed was probably started deliberately.