AN ARSON investigation has been launched after a blaze destroyed a vehicle in a Southampton car park.

Firefighters were called to the multi-storey car park in Eastgate Street, Southampton, at 3.48am yesterday.

Crews from St Mary’s and Hamble spent nearly two hours fighting the flames.

A Hampshire police spokesman said officers were investigating the cause of the fire and trying to trace the owner of the car.

He added: “We think the vehicle might have been abandoned and we don’t know the cause, but we think it was deliberate.”

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car crash into a nearby bollard before it was driven to the top of the multi-storey car park.

Tom Rodgers, 21, an acoustic engineering student at Southampton Solent University, lives in the student accommodation in front of the car park.

He said: “I heard a loud crash at about 2am. I, along with a few other residents, went to see and photograph the car.

“I went back to my room and thought nothing else of it. I was then aware of a burning smell at around 3am. I looked out my window to see the car ablaze, flames engulfing it.”

Mr Rodgers called the emergency services, adding: “There were several bangs as tyres and other pressure vessels exploded. It was stressful to watch.”

Southampton student Alice Penney, 24, who also lives nearby, was woken up by what she described as a “toxic” smell.

She said: “The fire startled me; it woke me up after I heard several bangs and smelled the burning petrol.

“I knew something wasn’t right and looked out my window to see a car rapidly engulfed in flames. It was scary as it kept exploding from the petrol.”

Witnesses can call police on 101.