A POLICE investigation has been launched after more than £20,000 damage was caused during a suspected arson attack at a business in Hampshire.

Ten cars were destroyed in the blaze and another two damaged when intruders set light to one of the vehicles.

Firefighters were called to the McCormick Recovery Yard in Colden Common shortly after 11.15pm on Easter Sunday after a passing driver heard an explosion and then saw 30ft flames reaching into the sky.

Yesterday police forensic officers and CID detectives were still investigating the incident, which is thought to have started after a lit rag was forced into the petrol tank of one of the cars.

One of the first on the scene was Steve McCormick, who is a partner in the business in Portsmouth Road.

He said the intruders used a ladder to climb over security fencing surrounding the site, before jumping on to one of the recovery trucks to get down the other side.

He added that those responsible then appear to have broken into two of the cars to take the stereos, before starting the fire.

The blaze then spread to nine other cars, leaving them as nothing more than burnt-out shells, with the heat from the flames damaging a further two vehicles.

Fortunately for bosses at the business, the company's tow trucks, which are used to retrieve cars damaged in accidents and are worth up to £90,000, were well away from the blaze.

Steve added: "I got a call late last night saying there was a fire at the yard and I came straight down here.

"As soon as I got over the hill down the road I could see flames going at least 30ft into the sky.

"Sadly, it's not the first time that people have broken in, but after the last time we had new security fencing put up to try to make sure it wouldn't happen again. They've just used a ladder this time to get over it."

Two fire engines and a water carrier were sent to the incident, which officers said was burning fiercely on arrival and which took almost an hour to bring under control.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus checked the yard for anyone caught up in the blaze.

Officers investigating the incident would now like to hear from anyone who was passing the yard on Sunday night, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545.