POLICE have launched an arson investigation after a group of youths set fire to a garden hedge in Southampton.

Officers say the blaze, which broke out at Prince of Wales Avenue shortly before 6pm on Monday, caused "significant" damage to a caravan parked beside the hedge.

A police spokesperson said: "This is being treated as arson, and enquiries are on-going to establish the circumstances."

It follows a spate of incidents in which cars parked outside houses in Southampton and neighbouring areas have been damaged or destroyed in arson attacks.

Three vehicles at Woodland Close, Thornhill, were destroyed on November 20 last year, a car was wrecked at Grosvenor Road, Southampton, on January 19, and two vehicles at Sand Martin Close, Eastleigh, went up in flames on February 6.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service received a large number of calls about the incident at Prince of Wales Avenue.

Crews from two fire stations - Redbridge and St Mary's - rushed to the scene. They quickly extinguished the fire and were stood down at 6.33pm.

One of the people driving through the area at the time said: "My four-year-old son was with me in the car at the time.

"He was pretty amazed and worried for the people, which I found so caring.

"I was more interested in getting us past the inferno as cars were stopping with ash sparks flying all over the road.

"If I hadn't had my son with me I would of offered to help move a caravan as I have a tow hook on the back of my pickup truck."

There are no reports of any injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44210077334.