MOTORISTS have been left devastated after three vehicles were set alight by thugs.

They told the Daily Echo their horror when they were woken in the middle of the night to watch as flames tore through the cars and van.

Firefighters tackled the blazes but it was too late and the Mercedes, Mazda and Fiat Doblo van were destroyed.

Residents had called the emergency services after hearing the engines explode outside their homes.

One man used his garden hose to begin putting out the van fire while he waited for fire crews to arrive.

The van had been parked overnight on Culvery Gardens, a short walk from the cars which had been in a car park behind Hallett Close in Townhill Park.

Jacek Podlas was woken by neighbours banging on his door and shouting “wake up - your car is burning”.

The 44-year-old from Hallett Close, Townhill Park and his 22-year-old son rushed outside and watched firefighters tackle the fireball which had engulfed his Mercedes, which he had only bought six months ago.

It comes just two years after his car was targeted by thugs who smashed his windscreen and sunroof.

The aircraft manufacturer said: “I bought the car in May for £2,860. It was a lovely car but it's completely destroyed. I'd only done 5,000 miles in it.

“It's completely damaged. It's beyond repair.

“I called work and they said not to come in. I work in Fareham so I couldn't get there.

“It's incredible. I don't know why people would do this.

“The neighbours have been talking about putting cameras there because we have had problems with thugs smashing car windows.

“We've spoken to the police about putting cameras there but no one will listen. It would be safer for everyone.

“People come from the other side of Townhill Park and cause trouble.”

Now police are hunting for the arsonists that caused the fires.

They are urging anyone with any information to contact them by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.