POLICE today stepped up their hunt for arsonists who went on the rampage and torched cars in a Hampshire neighbourhood.

Shocked residents were woken by a loud bang as the engine of one of the vehicles exploded, sending flames 12ft in the air.

Witnesses told how they peered out of their windows in the early hours of yesterday morning to see a hire van consumed by flames in Culvery Gardens, Chartwell Green.

One man called 999 as he grabbed a garden hose and began spraying water over his back wall in a bid to try and douse the flames.

Meanwhile, another two cars parked just 50 yards away, in a car park behind Hallett Close, were also set on fire.

Police and fire crews from Hightown and St Mary’s stations rushed to the scene after receiving the call at 1.15am.

The owners of the vehicles could only watch as firefighters battled the flames for two hours and officers gathered evidence.

All three vehicles – a Mercedes, Mazda and Fiat Doblo van – were destroyed.

Pensioner Dave Alexander, 65, told how he was watching a film when he heard a loud bang outside.

He said: “I went over to the wall and I saw that the van that was on fire. I called 999 and the person whose van it was, then I grabbed my hose and sprayed it over the road.

“It was just a case of getting as much of the fire out as possible. The fire brigade were here very quickly, so I turned my hose off and watched what was going on.”

Police are asking anyone with information about how the fires were started to call 101.