Fireworks turn car into fireball

Arsonists armed with fireworks are believed to be behind an explosion that rocked a York street and destroyed two cars.

People living in Windsor Garth, Acomb, came rushing out of their houses when a car parked on the roadside exploded in a fireball which severely damaged another vehicle parked nearby.

And residents said today that someone could have been killed if anyone had been walking past as the car exploded.

Damage caused to the two vehicles is estimated at up to £10,000.

The incident happened at around 11pm on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a hissing sound shortly before the explosion, which has led to speculation that fireworks were involved.

"Panic set in at first, then everyone living nearby came rushing out when they heard the noise," said Sue Pawson, whose Tata Gurkha estate car was destroyed in the fire.

Her car had been parked just feet from the Volkswagen Golf GTi targeted by the arsonists, and sustained extensive damage in the blaze.

"There was one big explosion then a few smaller bangs, and within a minute the car was a fireball," she said.

"If a bus had been going past or someone had been walking past people could have died."

She added: "What sort of pleasure could you get from doing something like that?

PC Richard Ball said police were treating the cause of the explosion as suspicious.

He said: "Inquiries at the scene revealed that two youths had been seen running away from the area, but we are unable to tell if they were running because of the loud bang, or because they had caused it.

"This was definitely a suspicious explosion, but at the moment we have no leads to go on."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire Service said it was treating the cause of the explosion as "doubtful".

Anyone with any information about the explosion should contact PC Ball on 01904 631321.

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