Families in an English seaside town have been evacuated after “absolute chaos” saw “10 cars torched” in a small number of streets.
Neighbours spoke of banging on windows to raise the alarmbell as cars were engulfed in flames just metres away from rows of residential properties in Hartlepool, Teesside.
Cleveland Police said officers were called to a “multiple vehicle fires” across the port town at around 2.20am on Friday. It meant a “small number” of families were evacuated while firefighters were in the area.
One nearby resident said: “Ten cars torched on our street and neighbouring streets, absloute chaos. Had to bang the owner awake.”
A Cleveland Police spokesman added: “Emergency services are currently dealing with multiple vehicle fires across the Hartlepool area. Police received report of fires on Caledonian Road, Baden Street, Shrewsbury Street, Lansdowne Road, Osborne Road, and Brinkburn Road.
“A small number of residents have been evacuated and officers are urging people to avoid the area whilst emergency services deal with the incident.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cleveland Police online or by calling 101 quoting incident 164288.
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