FOUR vehicles were destroyed by vandals in a spate of arson attacks in just one day.

Firefighters were called out three times in less than 10 minutes to three car blazes in Daubhill yesterday.

And just a few hours later, crews were out again to a fourth car fire in Astley Bridge.

The first call came at 1.35am when crews from Bolton Central were called to Daisy Street, Daubhill, where they discovered a silver Peugeot 406 well ablaze.

Eight minutes later at 1.43am, firefighters were called to neighbouring Blackledge Street where a white Mercedes Sprinter van and a dark blue Vauxhall Zafira were also on fire.

Early reports suggested the fires had been started in the wheel wells of the two cars, and the van had caught fire because it was so close to the Zafira.

Karsten Boyle, watch manager at Bolton Central, said: “There was a police presence and there will be an investigation. They were started deliberately and it’s possible they were linked.”

The Peugeot’s owner Saji Ahmed, aged 41, of Daisy Street, said: “I was woken up by my neighbour.

“I’m as gutted as I’m a joiner and I use the car for work. It’s just mindless damage they’re doing to people’s property. I’ve thought about CCTV in the past but it’s expensive, although I might get it now.”

Owner of the Sprinter van, Habiburahman Shirzad, aged 30, of Blackledge Street was in the process of buying the Zafira.

He said: “I got up just before 2am and heard a bang, I looked through the window and saw the cars on fire.

“I use the van for work, I don’t know how I’m going to manage.”

At 6.40am firefighters from Bolton North were called to Sweetloves Lane in Astley Bridge where a Rover 75 was on fire following another suspected arson attack.

Jean Whittington, aged 59, said the car was only given to her husband John recently as a 60th birthday gift from his children.

She said: “When he opened the curtains he saw it was on fire, so I dialled 999 and he went down to move my car further away from it.

“He was shocked but he said at least he wasn’t in it and that’s the main thing.

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting, it’s a violation of your life.”