Arson attack completely destroys a Staines car

Firefighters from Staines and Egham were called and took around 20 minutes putting out the flames.

Patrician Patchell, whose house in Georgian Close was closest to the blaze saw the fire and called the fire brigade.

She said: "The flames were quite high and actually reached an overhanging tree, which caused that to set alight."

Ms Patchell believed the car got to the ride as a means of a joyride, but an elderly female resident, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, believed it had been sitting there for a few weeks.

She said:"It had been parked there for a while and had already been broken into. I walk up the road quite a lot so I did see it sitting there. It was lucky there were no other cars parked nearby, as people sometimes leave them for three weeks while they get on a plane.

"We have a lot of problems with young people down here, and the police don't seem to do much about it."

The woman said she had to chase a group of youths a few weeks ago who stole her recycling bin in the middle of the night.

She said: "They come from as far away as Esher and cause a lot of trouble."

The arson attack is being investigated by Staines CID and officers from the Staines urban safer neighbourhood team carried out house to house enquiries and reassure residents.

A spokesman said: "The SNT carry out regular high visibility patrols in the area and any residents with any ongoing issues or concerns should call Surrey Police or attend the neighbourhood panel meeting for the area."